Teru-teru-bōzu is a doll Japanese people make and hang in the window when they want to wish for nice weather. This tradition is very old.

Ayako Egawa wrote from Japan about teru-teru-bozu…

“Teru teru bozu” is a doll made of white cloth or tissue. People, especially kids, make it when they wish it will be sunny the next day because they have a field day, school trip or something else. They display it in the window.

I attach photos of Teru teru bozu [above is one].

It is easy to make…

Spread out a white cloth (tissue paper), stuff some tissue in the center of it and bind it with a rubber band.
Draw a face and it is a Teru teru bozu!

I think it is a popular tradition even now.

“Teru” means sunny, “bozu” means a Buddhist priest, but in this case it means a small boy.

Let’s make a Teru teru bozu and ward off rain!

Ayako

Thanks Ayako! I did try making one… and it was easy! Here’s a photo guide to making a teru-teru-bozu…

1. Spread out 2 pieces of tissue paper on a table (use two to make it thicker).

2. Scrunch up a ball of tissue paper and put it in the center of the doubled-up piece that’s spread out.

3. Wrap the “spread out” piece of tissue paper around the crumpled up ball and put a rubber band around it.

4. Attach one long piece of ribbon over and around the rubber band tying it in the back and leaving a long string to hang up the teru teru bozu. Then tie a bow in the front with another smaller piece of ribbon for decoration.

5. Draw a face on the upper “ball” part (the head) of the teru-teru-bozu.

6. Hang it in the window overnight to ward off rain for the next day.

There’s a song that kids sing called teru-teru-bozu.

Here’s a teru-teru-bozu animation…

Enjoy!

Many thanks to Ayako Egawa for teaching us how to make a teru-teru-bozu!

Mama Lisa