Kamagaya Great Buddha, Buddha statue in Kamagaya city, Chiba prefecture, Japan
The Kamagaya Great Buddha is a bronze statue in the city of Kamagaya depicting Buddha in a calm, seated position. The artwork stands about 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall and features gentle facial features with a peaceful expression, created by a sculptor named Tagawa Shuzen.
The statue was created in 1776 after a wealthy merchant named Okuniya Fukuda Bunemon commissioned its creation to honor his ancestors. It survived the Meiji period when Buddhist statues were being removed and also endured World War II when the government collected bronze for the war effort.
The name Daibutsu means Great Buddha, a title given despite its modest size compared to other famous statues in Japan. The local community sees it as a symbol of their history and values, treating it with deep respect as part of their heritage.
The monument is only a short walk from Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station, making it easy to reach by train. The area is quiet and peaceful with no parking at the site, so most visitors arrive by rail from nearby stations.
The monument is famous as the smallest Daibutsu in all of Japan and was commissioned by a wealthy merchant family to honor their ancestors. This modest size contrasts sharply with the more famous giant Buddha statues found in Kamakura or Nara.
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