Hikaru Dorodango

Here's how to make a Hikaru Dorodango ("shiny mud ball") for a one-of-a-kind decoration and piece of art.

Natural clay, various jars and bowls, an egg cup (for polishing) a hammer, a sieve, a pan, a bag, water and a microfibre polishing cloth

To start our dorodango journey we need to make the core. To do that we need clay powder. This step is all about making the clay powder. For the most authentic dorodango we must go outside and find a place where there is lots of clay content in the soil. For instance you can find lots of clay in places like stream beds, ponds or river banks. Once you have found your clay, dig it up (I like to dig it up in big chunks) and then you'll need to let it dry. Dry it out on a pan or something flat in a cool, dry place. Once your clay is completely dry you can put it in a pan and use a hammer to crush it into a powder (you can also use a mortar and pestle to get it finer more quickly). Once you've crushed the clay use a sieve to get all the chunks out and create a fine powder.

Now that we have our clay powder, let's start making the core of the dorodango. Start by taking some of the clay and put it in a bowl. Add a small amount of water and mix. Your clay should have a cookie dough consistency when you have added enough water. Take a lump of the clay and start shaping it into a ball (make sure to make it bigger than the jar you will be using to shape it into a sphere). Do this for awhile and it will firm up a little. Make sure not to drop it because if you do it will break and you will have to start all over again! Once your ball is the size you want it to be, place it in a standard ziplock bag overnight.

Take the dorodango out of the bag and gently dry it with a towel or rag. Make it a little bit more spherical by rolling it between your hands and pressing down in a cupping motion. When you're happy with the shape, set it in a place where it can dry. Depending on where you place it will determine the time it takes for it to dry. You want to dry it till it is hard but a little sticky.

Start by getting your jar wet and use the rim to shave the extra clay off of the core. It will take some time and patience but it will start to get smoother as you work. Make sure to regularly take the clay that is forming on the rim of the jar off. It will be finished when no more clay comes off. As you work, use the clay that is coming off to smooth out any holes. When no more clay comes off, set it somewhere where it will continue to dry and harden for a couple of hours.

When it is fully dried, get the core slightly wet and use the bottom of the egg cup to smooth out the holes and imperfections. After awhile it will get sticky - when that happens start rubbing dry clay onto the core. Continue to do this until it is dry, then wet the bottom of the egg cup and start rubbing it on the core in a circular motion until it is sticky. Do this over and over till all the holes and cracks are gone and the core is smooth. Then let it dry overnight.

Now that we have a smooth and ready core we need to start polishing it! Take your egg cup and use the bottom to polish the core in a circular motion. You will start to see it smoothing out after a couple of minutes. If there are any holes or non-shiny areas you can use the side of the egg cup to polish those places. After 5-10 minutes of polishing you will start to see it shine. After about 20 to 30 minutes it will be really shiny! Once you think its done take a cloth (I prefer a microfibre cloth ) and use it to polish the dorodango. If the dorodango surface starts to become cloudy you need to keep polishing. Do this for awhile until it isn't cloudy anymore and perfectly shiny on all sides.

Now that our dorodango is done we need to display it! You can display it on a table, shelf, windowsill, nightstand or anywhere you want to admire your special piece of art! Eventually the dorodango will start to dry out causing it to lose its shine so I like to give it a polish every day. Simply wet your dorodango and use the egg cup to polish it. Also I like to use a glass jar misted inside with water and keep the dorodango in it throughout the night to keep it shiny. I hope you find this Instructable helpful to your dorodango creating journey!