Project for the Creation of “Stand-inBuddhist Statues” by High School andUniversity Students: Conveying
Wakayama’s Cultural Properties to theFuture

Wakayama Prefecture

Background and Reasons for Deciding tothe temples of the original statues as O-migawari

Undertake the Project

Butsuzo (“Stand-in Buddhist statues”), while theIn Wakayama Prefecture, more than 280 Buddhist

actual statues are stored at the Wakayama

statues and other cultural properties were stolen or

Prefectural Museum and other institutions.

damaged between 2008 and 2019—and those are
only the known cases. These Buddhist statues hadbeen enshrined in village temples and small worshiphalls as objects of faith. Many of the places where
this damage occurred are small villages withdeclining populations or remote mountainous areas.
Frequently, there is no one living permanently at thetemple and consistent upkeep by local residents isdifficult due to an aging population and other factors.
The temples where the damage occurred are

Inside the Nishiyama Kannon Hall where artefacts

places of faith that play an important role in tying
togethermembersoftheirrespective

have been stolen or damaged

localcommunities. Thus, losing the Buddhist statues thatProject Aims

are objects of faith for the community causes
residents both material loss and mental suffering in

1． Provide a means to protect Buddhist statues

addition to the cultural loss for Wakayama Prefecture.

(cultural properties) from theft or damage andMeasures are needed to not only prevent the theft

maintain places of faith in regional communities
2． Resolve issues faced by regional communities

and damage of Buddhist statues in regional temples
and worship halls, but also protect these statuesand maintain local communities

from being damaged in major Tokai/Tonankai/Nankai
earthquakes or other disasters that are predicted toProject Outlineoccur.

In creating O-migawari Butsuzo, Wakayama

A project aimed at resolving these issues was

Prefecture first selects Buddhist statues that are alaunched in FY2012. Overseen by the Wakayama

priority for preservation and holds discussions with

Prefectural Museum, this project involves Wakayama

the statue’s administrator and/or local community

Prefecturalmembers. Once their consent to duplicate the statueWakayama

TechnicalHighSchool

students creating 3D printed Buddhist statues thathas been obtained,

are then coloured by Wakayama University students.

Wakayama Technical High School students measure

The finished Buddhist statue copies are enshrined in

the statue’s three-dimensional data, which is then1

Wakayama Prefectural

adjusted using CAD. A copy of the statue is then・Government-academia collaboration has enabled

made using a 3D printer. The output plastic Buddhist

the creation of duplicate statues—which is normallystatue is polished to prepare the base and thenextremely expensive—to be achieved for the cost ofWakayama University students colour the plastic

materials.

statue using acrylic paint so that the completed

・ With regard to the issues facing regional

statue looks the same as the original statue. Whencommunities, the project can also involve high school

completed, the O-migawari Butsuzo travels with theandhigh school and university students that created it toleaders—in the resolution of these issues.

university

students—futurecommunity

the original statue’s temple and is presented to the
local community.

Results of the Project・From FY2012 to FY2021, a total of 32 O-migawari
Butsuzo were enshrined at 17 locations.
・ The project has directly led to the resolution ofissues, with local community members making
comments such as “Now I can sleep with peace ofmind at night” and “I have the same faith in theBuddhist statue that the high school students madeas I do in the real statue”.
・Within the period that the project activities werespreading, there were no cases of cultural

Measuring a statue using a 3D scan

properties being stolen or damaged in 2020 and2021.
・In 2019, the project received the 8th Platinum
Vision Award’s “Sparkling Activity” Award forExcellence.

Colouring a 3D-printed plastic statue using acrylicpaint.
Project Features and Innovation
・Creating Buddhist statues—which are traditionallyhandcrafted by artisans—using 3D printers and otherAn original Buddhist statue (left) and its 3D-printed

cutting-edge equipment and technology has realised

O-migawari Butsuzo

the production of elaborate duplicate statues by highschool students and university students.
2Issues and Responses
・ Although numerous requests for O-migawari
Butsuzo have been received, mass production is notpossible because the statues are created through asystem utilising the high school students’ practicaltraining (within their class curriculum) and theuniversity students’ volunteer activities (universityrecognised; no credits). The project is being
continued as a model program.
・Initially the colouration of the duplicate statues was

Dedication of an O-migawari Butsuzo

performed by Wakayama Prefectural Museum staff
but is now carried out by Wakayama University

Reference URLs

students under the museum’s volunteer system.

https://www.hakubutu.wakayama-c.ed.jp/

However, there are unstable factors in securing
workers capable of doing the work to a certain

Contactstandard. Moving forward, there is a need to broadly

Division in Charge: Wakayama Prefectural Museum

recruit members of the general public who are

Phone: ＋81- 73-423-2467

interested in carrying out the colouration work.

E-mail admin@hakubutu.wakayama-c.ed.jp

Future Developments (Anticipated Results,Key Terms

Outlook for the Project, Issues, etc.)
The Wakayama Prefectural Museum displays 3Dprinted Buddhist statues, made using the same
method as O-migawari Butsuzo, as replicas thatvisitors may touch, providing an environment where
not only the visually impaired but all museum visitors
are able to touch and enjoy the exhibits while
appreciating them.
Many of the Buddhist statues and other artifacts
stored at temples around Japan are culturally
valuable, and their preservation and management
are a national issue. Accordingly, it is expected thatsimilar initiatives using this project as a model will
spread nationwide.

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