Conservation and Restoration of the Great Buddha of Kamakura

Under the Restoration of Cultural Properties Government Subsidy Project, the conservation and restoration of the bronze statue of seated Amida Nyorai (known as The Great Buddha of Kamakura; National Treasure) in Kōtokuin temple located in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, was carried out from January 13 to March 10, with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, taking charge of the major part of the survey and work management. This was the first large-scale work since the major restoration conducted in the Shōwa period from 1959 to 1961. Scaffolding was erected for cleaning to remove dust and bird dropping from areas that could not be reached by cleaning work from the ground. In addition, non-destructive analysis of the Buddha statue was carried out using X-ray fluorescence [XRF] and X-ray diffraction analysis [XRD] spectrometers, and the seismic isolation devices employed at the major restoration conducted in the Shōwa period was examined. (Japanese)