Kamagaya Daibutsu

The Kamagaya Daibutsu is a bronze seated statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, created in 1776 by Bun'emon Okuniya (Fukuda) in Kamagaya-juku for the purpose of ancestor worship, commissioned from the metalworker Takagawa Shūzen in Kanda, Edo.
During the opening ceremony of the Buddha's eyes, the road from his home to the Daibutsu, about three towns (approximately 327 meters), was covered with Ryukyu fabric, and more than fifty monks were invited to perform a ceremonial procession accompanied by music. It is said that the food served at that time was extravagant, prepared for 300 people by a high-end restaurant in Edo, with gold and silver decorations on the second course, and local folk songs of the time sang, "Silver in the bowl, gold in the dish, and for the grand finale, golden coins on the plate."
The Kamagaya Daibutsu was located along the Kioroshi Kaidō, connecting Edo to Chōshi, making it a landmark for travelers. In the illustrations of the "Kisoji Meisho Zue" depicting famous places along the Tokaido Road, the Kamagaya Daibutsu is shown alongside people traveling the road, with horses running in the grasslands. The Daibutsu at the entrance of Kamagaya-juku was likely well-known among the people of Edo.
The Kamagaya Daibutsu has been cherished by the local community, surviving the anti-Buddhist movements of the Meiji Era and metal requisitions during the Asia-Pacific War. Today, it is loved by the local people across generations, becoming a station name and inspiring products that bear its name.

Cultural and Sports Division

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