Darumasan ga koronda

Darumasan ga Koronda is a Japanese game for at least three players. The name of the game literally means “The Daruma doll fell down.” It bears a resemblance to the English and American children's game Red Light, Green Light, and even more so to the American game "Ghost in the Graveyard". There are many variations of the game and slight rule changes based on region or merely the group of people playing the game. One known variation is that in Osaka and the surrounding area, this game is called "Bosan ga He o koita" (a bonze farted).

One person is chosen as the Oni or demon. All other participants act as common players. Before play begins, a starting line is drawn, and the demon stands at some distance away from the starting line, in front of a tree, wall, or other fixed object.

The game begins with the players shouting "hajime no ippo" (Taking the first step!) As this is shouted, the players on the starting line jump one step in any direction, but usually towards the demon.

Main gameplay

Oni, literally the “demon”, or the "it" player faces away from the other players towards the tree or the wall, so that he or she cannot see them. "It" then chants a spell: "Daruma-san ga koronda". The other players approach "it" while this spell is spoken aloud, coming as near as possible.

When "it" finishes saying the spell, he or she can then turn around and look at the players. The players should stop their actions immediately when the last word is spoken and try not to move while "it" is looking at them, or they can be called out. "It" checks to see if any player is moving. If nobody is moving, "it" turns around again, and repeats the spell.

When "it" does spot somebody moving, he or she calls that player's name. The player whose name is called upon is caught. That player then has to go to the place where "it" is and stand holding one of his or her hands. This player may not run away or help the other players. If all the players are caught in this way by "it" (the captured players chain along, holding each other's hands), the person first caught is the loser and becomes the next "it" person.

If a player reaches "it" or any caught players, he or she gets to free them from "it". To free them he or she shouts "Kitta!" (I cut you loose) and makes a gesture of slicing between the clasped hands of two players or by touching the back of "it". Players that freed run as fast as they can away from "it". Players not freed may not run away. "It" then turns as soon as possible and shouts "Tomare!" (Stop!). Every player must stop immediately at this point, but is not recaptured unless "it" touches them under a certain rule (which varies from area to area).

For instance, after such a jailbreak, "it" can take up to five steps from where he or she is standing in order to touch other players. If "it" touches every other player, the first player touched is the loser (in the typical rule), and becomes the next "it" person. If "it" cannot reach everyone, then he or she remains "it" for the next round.

The rules may vary from generation to generation, from area to area.

Strategy and style

A popular strategy for this game, when playing as the demon, is to chant at varying speeds or to chant so fast that it is dangerous for any player to move at all. Players often strike strange poses when stopping to show off skill and it is quite common for the best player to stand right behind the demon but not touch him. This player then may taunt the demon when he turns around.