Peace Prayer Statue cleaned as prayer for peaceful New Yea in Itoman

Peace Prayer Statue cleaned as prayer for peaceful New Yea in Itoman

Staff members clean dust from the Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue (December 16, the Okinawa Peace Hall in Mabuni, Itoman)


December 17, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Itoman – On December 16, the Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue at the Okinawa Peace Hall in Mabuni, Itoman, was wiped clean of dust as part of a “cleansing” in preparation for the new year. In a normal year, around 20 people including bus tour guides would participate in removing dust from the statue. However, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, only seven staff members from the Okinawa Foundation participated this year. The workers offered a moment of silence to pray for peace and wiped dust from every nook and cranny of the statue.

 

The Peace Prayer Statue is approximately 12 meters tall and 8 meters across. The late Shinzan Yamada made the prototype. The statue is “cleansed” twice each year, once before Okinawa Memorial Day on June 23, and once at the end of the year.  Normally, the Mabuni Fire and Bell Festival would be held at the Peace Hall on the night of December 31. However, this year it has also been canceled due to the novel coronavirus.

 

Staff members clean dust from the Okinawa Peace Prayer Statue (December 16, the Okinawa Peace Hall in Mabuni, Itoman)

 

(English translation by T&CT and Ellen Huntley)

 

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