The world’s tallest bronze Buddha statue, located in Ushiku, Japan, recently underwent its annual cleaning, thanks to two experienced veterans who have handled the task for over two decades. Standing 360 feet tall, the statue required the meticulous attention of Kazuyoshi Taguchi, 54, and Kazumi Minowa, 51, who scaled the massive monument to restore its shine.
Using high-pressure water guns, the duo cleaned the statue from top to bottom, starting at the head and working their way down to its right ear. Taguchi and Minowa faced challenges during their initial attempts, including strong winds and the complexity of climbing the statue. However, with their extensive experience, they efficiently removed dust and bird droppings accumulated over the year.
Towering at a massive 120 meters, the Ushiku Daibutsu (牛久大仏, “Great Buddha of Ushiku”) in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the world’s tallest Buddha statues. For comparison, Nara’s Daibutsu in Todaiji Temple is only 15 meters high. pic.twitter.com/qZTRzCky7t
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Taguchi, an amateur boxer, and Minowa, a fishing enthusiast, have become adept at this unusual job, which involves carrying buckets of water and ropes up ladders and navigating through the Buddha’s 480 coils of curly hair. The cleaning process also includes refreshing the statue’s ears, a task that has become routine for the pair.
The annual cleaning of the Buddha statue aligns with traditional Japanese practices where temples and worshippers clean altars and buildings. Ushiku temple representative Masahiro Maekawa noted that the event symbolizes reflection on the past year and preparation for the new one.
Completed in 1992, the statue is covered with over 6,000 bronze panels and took a decade to build. It is also noted in the Guinness World Records for its towering height and serves as a temple, allowing visitors to explore its interior.