Awaji Kannon: One of the world's tallest statues

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 5 April 2023

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

In 1982, a Japanese businessman unveiled one of the tallest statues in the world called the World Peace Giant Kannon in Awaji Island, Japan. At 100 metres tall, the statue was visible from all across the island. Despite healthy visitor numbers when it first opened, the statue fell into disrepair and locals believed it was haunted. Emily Finch speaks to local resident Yusuke Natsukawa about the impact of the statue on the island, and Goro Otsubo who visited the statue in 2002. A Whistledown production for BBC World Service. (Picture: Awaji Kannon. Credit: Shutterstock)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now on the BBC World Service, witness history with me, Emily Finch. Today I'm taking you
0:11.0	back to 1982, to Ouaji, an island in central Japan. A 100 metre tall statue of a Buddhist
0:20.8	deity has just been erected on the eastern side of the island. The statue, which is 7 metres
0:27.2	taller than the statue of Liberty in New York, was named the world peace giant cannon after
0:33.0	a revered Buddhist deity. She has a serene expression on her face, a prominent bindi on her forehead,
0:40.9	and a flowing robe over her shoulders. The fingers of her right hand are stretched and pointing towards
0:48.3	the sky, a mootra, symbolizing charity and serenity. Made of white gypsum and set amongst the hills
0:58.9	of Ouaji, construction started on the statue in 1977 and it took five years to complete. It was advertised
1:07.3	as the tallest statue in the world when it was built. Here's local resident Yusuke Natsukawa.
1:14.2	The peace cannon was so large that you couldn't miss it when you drove around Ouaji Shima. The cannon
1:23.3	really stuck out because the island is small and doesn't have many buildings. Since it was 100 metre
1:30.6	tall, it was considered impressive when it was first built and even now. The man behind the statue
1:41.4	was Tokichi Okuchi, a local businessman who had made his fortune in real estate. After making his
1:48.3	millions building and managing hotels and offices in Osaka, Okuchi wanted to make a triumphant return
1:54.6	to his home island of Ouaji by constructing the colossal statue. The reason it was built can be
2:03.6	found in the full name of the statue, the world peace cannon. The creator wanted everyone to live in
2:11.0	peace and the statue had the most eye catching presence. I think the creator was a good person with
2:18.0	good intentions. He wanted to create something for everyone to enjoy.
2:30.6	In the origin myth of Japan, it said that Ouaji Shima was made by the gods before the rest of the
2:38.2	country. I think that's why Mr. Okuchi built the statue here since it's a historically important
2:46.1	place. But unlike most other giant Buddhist statues in Japan, the world peace cannon wasn't
2:57.7	affiliated with a religious organization or a nearby temple and was the vision of just one man.
	...

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