Manji no Sekubutsu (Stone Buddha)

This is a stone Buddhist statue close to Suwataisha Shrine Shimosha Harumiya in Suwa Town, Suwa County, Nagano Prefecture, and since the torso was carved in 1660—the third year of the Manji period—it has become known as Manji. It is said that this statue came about due to a stonemason who wanted to offer a stone Otorii gate to Suwa-taisha Shrine Shimosha Harumiya. When he started to hit a large boulder with a chisel, blood was seen running from the rock. Filled with surprise and fear, the stonemason carved the rock into an image of Amida Nyorai (the Amitabha Buddha). The large stone torso and small head is unusual for a stone Buddhist statue, and is famous for earning high praise from the likes of artist Taro Okamoto.