The Daruma is a doll representing a Buddhist preiest generally wrapped up in a red cloth. It is on sale at every toy-shop in Japan. The doll has no legs, but it is made in such a way with a weight in it that it will immediately return to an upright position every time it is knocked down. Hence the doll is also called "okiagari-koboshi" meaning a bonze who can easily get up. The doll is therefore used as a luck-bringer by orthodox Japanese, who consider it to be symbolical of an undaunted spirit against failure. They will keep, at a conspicuous place in the house, a Daruma doll of papier-mache, which has two blank eyes, ie. without the pupils or which has its eyes covered with a piece of paper. When a prayer is answered or an object achieved, the paper is removed and the pupils are put with black Indian ink in the blank eyes.

cited from WE JAPANESE