Hikaru Doro-Dangos

-Guide to Hikaru Doro-Dangos-

I. Introduction
II. The core
III. The preliminary capsule
IV. Drawing out the moisture
V. Outer capsule layer
VI. Polishing

I. Introduction
Hikaru Doro-Dango is a current Japanese hobby. A Doro-Dango is a polished ball made of mud and fine dirt (found in anyone's back yard).
This is a relatively easy, skill-free, and inexpensive hobby and you can even start a collection of some sort. Each different type of soil creates a different color and texture.

What you will need:

•Soil (the more fine it is, the better. But any DRY soil will work. Try to use soil that hasn't been rained on for at least 3-4 days)
•Water
•A bowl
•A plastic bag
•A soft cloth
•Something very soft
•PATIENCE! (it takes steady hands when creating the shell at first because it in fragile. You also have to time it right or the ball may dry out and crack if you don't get it back into the bag to start the next layer. ALL WILL BE EXPLAINED LATER)

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II. The core
Create the mixture by mixing your dry dirt and water until the dirt takes on a consistency of dough. Take a handful of your mixture and compact it with both hands, getting as much moisture out as possible and shaping it into a spherical shape. Once it takes a more solid form, start to shake it gently between your hands to expel any surface defects or internal air pockets. If you do it enough, it will get a little more solid and form a more symmetrical sphere.



III. The preliminary capsule
While still holding your Doro-Dango-in-the-making, sprinkle handfuls of dirt over the top and gently spread it out with the outer curve of your thumb. Rotate and repeat several times until it is dry but not dry enough to crack.

IV. Drawing out the moisture
Put the Doro-Dango into a plastic bag, sitting on something very soft so that it does not form a flat end to your sphere. Leave it in there for around 20 minutes, making sure as you go on, that you do not leave it in there too long or it will lose it's shape from the moisture. Leaving the Doro-Dango in the bag will draw out the moisture from the inside to the surface through condensation. Once it's ready, remove the ball and repeat step 3.

Keep repeating steps 3 and 4 until the Doro-Dango is kinda hard to the touch, like leather. You may also use the fridge to speed up the process but if you leave it in there too long, a pool will collect and your ball will fall apart.

V. Outer capsule layer
If you are on-site (or where your source of soil is located), pat the dry dirt with your hands to adhere a little bit to your skin and rub it over the Doro-Dango. Keep doing this until the surface moisture is completely absorbed. It will look and feel powdery.



If you are not on-site, then take a few handfuls, stick it in a closed container and shake hard so it breaks up the dirt. Then wait for the dust to settle and pat your hands in it and rub it on the ball.

Stick the ball back into the back for another 20 minutes and repeat this step several times. When the fine dirt doesn't adhere to the Doro-Dango anymore, you are ready to polish.

VI. Polishing
If the ball is still in the bag, and not much water is coming, remove it from the bag, and let it dry further for 20 minutes. Once it's dry, GENTLY begin to rub the surface with a soft cloth. It will take maybe an hour to polish to a high gloss so keep rubbing. Once you are sure the ball is very dry, the surface will be much harder and you can begin to rub harder and more vigorously.

If all goes well, you should have a high gloss ball made entirely of dirt and water.


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