Japanese Duo Scales 360 Feet to Clean World's Tallest Bronze Buddha
Japanese Duo Scales 360 Feet to Clean World's Tallest Bronze Buddha
The world’s tallest bronze Buddha, located in Ushiku, Japan, has recently undergone its annual cleaning, a task performed by two dedicated veterans for over two decades. Standing at 360 feet, the statue is meticulously cleaned each year by Kazuyoshi Taguchi, 54, and Kazumi Minowa, 51, who use high-pressure water guns to remove dust and bird droppings from the monument.
The cleaning process starts from the statue’s head and works down to its right ear. Taguchi, reflecting on their experience, noted the challenges they data-faced initially, such as being buffeted by the wind and navigating the statue’s vast data-size. However, after numerous cleanings, the task has become more manageable. On september 9, 2024, Taguchi and Minowa, equipped with ropes and buckets of water, climbed the statue and cleaned its detailed features, including the 480 coils of curly hair and the statue’s ears.
Taguchi and Minowa, both amateurs in climbing—Taguchi being an amateur boxer and Minowa a fishing enthusiast—pride themselves on their role in maintaining the statue. Their annual soot removal is part of a broader tradition in Japanese temples, where monks and worshippers clean altars and buildings to reflect on the past year and start anew.
The Ushiku Buddha, which holds a Guinness World Record, stands 110 meters (360 feet 10.7 inches) tall and was completed in 1992 after a decade of construction. Its exterior is adorned with over 6,000 bronze panels, and the statue also serves as a temple, allowing visitors to explore its interior.
The world’s tallest bronze Buddha, located in Ushiku, Japan, has recently undergone its annual cleaning, a task performed by two dedicated veterans for over two decades. Standing at 360 feet, the statue is meticulously cleaned each year by Kazuyoshi Taguchi, 54, and Kazumi Minowa, 51, who use high-pressure water guns to remove dust and bird droppings from the monument.
The cleaning process starts from the statue’s head and works down to its right ear. Taguchi, reflecting on their experience, noted the challenges they data-faced initially, such as being buffeted by the wind and navigating the statue’s vast data-size. However, after numerous cleanings, the task has become more manageable. On september 9, 2024, Taguchi and Minowa, equipped with ropes and buckets of water, climbed the statue and cleaned its detailed features, including the 480 coils of curly hair and the statue’s ears.
Taguchi and Minowa, both amateurs in climbing—Taguchi being an amateur boxer and Minowa a fishing enthusiast—pride themselves on their role in maintaining the statue. Their annual soot removal is part of a broader tradition in Japanese temples, where monks and worshippers clean altars and buildings to reflect on the past year and start anew.
The Ushiku Buddha, which holds a Guinness World Record, stands 110 meters (360 feet 10.7 inches) tall and was completed in 1992 after a decade of construction. Its exterior is adorned with over 6,000 bronze panels, and the statue also serves as a temple, allowing visitors to explore its interior.