I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Darumaka.
Daruma dolls are small, round red dolls found at temples and gift shops in Japan. They originated in Shorinzan Temple in Gunma Prefecture. The Daruma represent The Bodhidharma, or Daruma in Japanese, the founder of Zen Buddhism. Buying a Daruma at New Year is a big tradition in Japan, with people painting one eye as they make a wish and the other when it comes true, then burning the doll and replacing it at the next new year.
On top of this centuries-old cultural significance, Daruma are also popular throughout Japanese culture. Children play a version of Red-light, green light called Daruma-san, with the player as the Daruma coming to life. There’s a Jenga-like wooden game in which blocks beneath the Daruma are knocked out with a little hammer. And in Winter, snowmen are called Yuki-Daruma by Japanese children.
Darumaka is a fire-type Pokémon, a bouncing little monkey that resembles a Daruma.
Black
When its internal fire is burning, it cannot calm down and it runs around. When the fire diminishes, it falls asleep.

In a slightly more gross little snippet.
White
Darumaka's droppings are hot, so people used to put them in their clothes to keep themselves warm.

Pokémon Shield acknowledges the traditional origins of the Daruma but also a more recent form played with by children, a kind of Tumbler Doll that wobbles but never falls down.
Shield
This popular symbol of good fortune will never fall over in its sleep, no matter how it's pushed or pulled.

In the Galar region, based on the UK, there may not be a great tradition of making and burning Daruma, but there is certainly a tradition of people making Snowmen. Here we have Galarian Daruma, an ice-type Pokémon that looks like a white Daruma made of snow.
Sword
It lived in snowy areas for so long that its fire sac cooled off and atrophied. It now has an organ that generates cold instead.
Shield
The colder they get, the more energetic they are. They freeze their breath to make snowballs, using them as ammo for playful snowball fights.

When a Unovan Darumaka reaches level 35, or when a Galarian Darumaka is exposed to an ice stone, they both evolve into Darmanitan.
Darmanitan is a bigger, almost gorilla-like beast, still resembling a Daruma in its Unovan form and with a round bouffant haircut being slightly more resemblant of a snowman in Galarian Form.
Black
Its internal fire burns at 2,500° F, making enough power that it can destroy a dump truck with one punch.

Sword
On days when blizzards blow through, it comes down to where people live. It stashes food in the snowball on its head, taking it home for later.
Shield
Though it has a gentle disposition, it's also very strong. It will quickly freeze the snowball on its head before going for a headbutt.

Many players will have first encountered Darumaka in the overworld in Pokémon Black and White, where it could be found as a statue which springs to life when a player interacts with it. This because Darumaka with the Hidden Ability Zen Mode gain a unique form.
When their health drops below half, these Pokémon enter Zen Mode, in which Unovan Darumaka resemble stone Daruma. In this form, speed and attack are swapped for special attack and defensive power. Unovan Darumaka gain an additional psychic type.
White
When weakened in battle, it transforms into a stone statue. Then it sharpens its mind and fights on mentally.

Sword
Through meditation, it calms its raging spirit and hones its psychic powers.
In their Zen mode, Galarian Darumaka even more strongly resemble Snowmen and gain an additional fire type. Rather than boosting defensive stats and special attack, it actually cuts defenses and boosts attack even further.
Sword
Anger has reignited its atrophied flame sac. This Pokémon spews fire everywhere as it rampages indiscriminately.
Shield
Darmanitan takes this form when enraged. It won't stop spewing flames until its rage has settled, even if its body starts to melt.

Darmanitan’s decent attacking power for a fighting type, and exceptional attacking power as an ice type, meant they both saw some competitive play. Unfortunately, in the multiplayer game, it never made sense to build a team around a Pokémon which switches to a defensive role mid-fight, so Zen Mode never came into it.
I’ve never settled into a routine for my New Years in Japan yet, so I actually still have the Daruma from my very first January 1st. I wished I would get to stay in the country and I’ve had five more new years eves since then, so I guess it worked. I’m not sure how such a long-term wish works. Should I have burned it after one year, or do I need to hang onto it as long as I stay in the country? Answers in a tweet, please. . .
Music for Luke Loves Pokémon is composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Writing, Producing and Editing is by me, Luke Summerhayes. Funding is provided by my lovely listeners. If you’d like to join them, to help keep the show online and find other podcasts by me and my pals, head over to Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius.
Coming up are Maractus and Dwebble, so if you thoughts about those or any other monsters, hit me up with a DM @LukeLovesPKMN or an email to LukeLovesPKMN@Gmail.com. And of course, I’d love if you could leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Darumaka. And remember. I love you too.