On Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, preparations for the dismantling of a huge 100-meter-high Kannon statue, which has been abandoned for many years after the owner died and is aging, began on the 14th.
The Kinki Local Finance Bureau will spend 880 million yen to demolish it.
The "World Peace Giant Kannon Statue" in Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, is made of steel with a height of about 100 meters, and the interior was open to the public as a private tourist facility from 1982 to 2006, but the owner died and was left unattended. Due to aging, a part of the wall fell and the danger increased.
The statue and the site will be owned by the state because the relatives have abandoned the inheritance, and the Kinki Local Finance Bureau plans to demolish it for 880 million yen by February next year and make it a vacant lot.
On the morning of the 14th, about 10 workers of a construction company undertaking the construction mowed the surrounding weeds and prepared to make an enclosure.
According to the Kinki Local Finance Bureau, the dismantling is scheduled to begin in December, and the 19,000-square-meter site will be sold by bidding if there is no intention of acquiring it from the local government.
A man in his 70s who runs a restaurant nearby said, "The Kannon statue used to be gorgeous and I was happy with many customers, but now I am happy that it will be dismantled. I want you to proceed safely." ..
Mayor Yasuhiko Kado of Awaji City commented, "We have received requests for safety measures from the residents, so we are grateful for the prompt response of the country. We will consider using it if the city officially requests it." ..