Peace Memorial Statue undergoes “purification” cleaning for new year

Peace Memorial Statue undergoes

Personnel carefully wipe off dust while checking the statue for cracks on December 15 in the Peace Memorial Hall in Mabuni, Itoman City (photograph by Riko Higa)


December 16, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Riko Higa

 

On December 15 at the Peace Memorial Hall in Mabuni, Itoman City, the Okinawa Peace Memorial Statue underwent “purification” in which it was cleared of dust. In an average year, about 30 people such as bus tour guides participate in the cleaning. However, as a way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the scale was reduced to 11 people in total, including Okinawa Foundation personnel, who are in charge of management, operations, etc. of the Peace Memorial Hall, and students at the Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts.

The Peace Memorial Statue, the prototype of which was created by the late Shinzan Yamada, is about 12 meters tall and about 8 meters wide. Participants climbed up stepladders and wiped off dust while checking to confirm there were no cracks in the statue.

Shunno Yoshida, 22, a third-year student at the Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts, said, “I have never seen the details this close. Through experiencing the sensation and intensity of touching [the statue], I felt the strength of urushi (Japanese lacquer).”

Masaji Itokazu, 66, who is a former professor at the Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts and was involved in the creation of the statue, said, “I hope for corona to come to an end soon, and for there to be peace around the world.”

The Mabuni Fire and Bell Festival, which is held at the Peace Memorial Hall starting on the evening of December 31 in an average year, has been cancelled for the second year in a row as a way to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

 

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