10-05-2025
Giant Buddha statue with 'sunglasses' near Nagoya a social media hit
KONAN, Aichi -- A gentle-faced giant Buddha statue with "sunglasses" in this central Japan city, north of Nagoya, has become a popular spot.
When seen from a site where a railroad crossing's black warning signal lights overlap the serene eyes of the statue beyond, the stylish "sunglasses Buddha" appears. Located near Hotei Station on Nagoya Railroad Co.'s (Meitetsu) Inuyama Line in the heart of Konan, Aichi Prefecture, this Buddha has long been affectionately known as the "Buddha of Hotei" by locals.
Even bigger than the Great Buddha of Nara
After photos of the Buddha with "sunglasses" were shared on social media, it quickly gained attention as a photogenic spot.
A few minutes' walk from the railroad crossing, the Buddha emerges in the middle of a residential area. Made of concrete and standing 18 meters tall, a nearby signboard notes that it is about 2 meters taller than the Great Buddha of Nara, the national treasure at the popular tourist spot Todai-ji Temple in the ancient Japanese capital of Nara. Up close, its imposing presence is overwhelming.
Featured on city promotional posters, keychains
But why is there a Buddha statue there? According to the city's tourism association, local acupuncturist Hidenobu Maeda invested his own funds in 1949 to build the statue to help people overcome hardships from illnesses, and the Buddha of Hotei was completed in 1954.
Currently managed by Maeda's surviving relatives, it is considered one of the largest privately owned Buddhas in Japan.
The statue's social media popularity led to its inclusion on the city's promotional posters. In 2024, a keychain featuring the Buddha with sunglasses was launched as part of merchandise to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the incorporation of Konan as a city and is reportedly selling well.
Illuminated for crime prevention
In addition to boosting local pride, the Buddha also contributes to crime prevention. During spring and fall public safety campaigns, local police illuminate the statue. The light color changes according to the jurisdiction's crime situation -- red for incidents like telephone fraud and burglaries, and blue otherwise, to raise awareness.
Yoichi Yoshii, an assistant section chief at the city government's planning department, acknowledged, "The statue's not public property," but eagerly added, "We want to continue planning events related to it."
When an Inuyama Line train passes, the two warning lights at the rail crossing flash red alternately, as if the Buddha is winking from behind his sunglasses.
The spot is about a 12-minute walk north of Hotei Station.
