Shimabara's new symbol! "Hara Castle Saint Maria Kannon"

#DomesticTravelRecord During my trip to Nagasaki, I visited the new tourist attraction "Hara Castle St. Maria Kannon Hall" in Minamishimabara City. "Hara Castle St. Maria Kannon" is a statue of Mary created by Eiji Chikamatsu, a sculptor from Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, over a period of 40 years. When Eiji Chikamatsu visited the ruins of Hara Castle in his younger days, he noticed that there was no prominent memorial monument, and in 1981, when the Pope visited Japan, he decided to create a statue of Mary. He spent his own money and continued to carve it alone for 40 years. It was named "Hara Castle St. Maria Kannon" with the hope that it would be a place of peace and healing for people's hearts, regardless of religion, with the wish for peace. The statue of Mary, about 10 meters tall, was impressive. It's worth a look!