Here stands a unique stone sculpture. It is the Ahondara Lion statue. Have you ever seen a lion quite like this one?
The Ahondara Lion is located in the southern part of Senri Central Park. It sits on a hill behind the Toyonaka Municipal Senri Gymnasium. This statue is one of several monuments. They were donated by companies in 1970 to commemorate the completion of Senri New Town.
Masayuki Nagare created the Ahondara Lion. He was an internationally renowned artist who worked with large stones. The Daiwa Bank now Resona Bank donated it in 1970.
The Ahondara Lion has a stone head. This head sits atop a cylindrical stone pillar. The pillar is about 1.8 meters in diameter and 0.8 meters high. The stone head is 4.75 meters long. The entire sculpture weighs about 140 tons.
Some say the Ahondara Lion was placed here for a special reason. Senri is located in a direction considered unlucky from Osaka. So the statue was meant to ward off evil. For over 40 years this lion has steadfastly faced west. It protects the people of Senri from misfortune. It remained unmoved during the Great Hanshin Earthquake. It suffered no damage from vandals.
The Ahondara Lion has a sibling artwork. It is Nagare’s “Cloud Fortress” at the New York World Trade Center. After the terrorist attacks, it was recovered and became a topic of discussion.
Local elderly residents feel a sense of familiarity when they see the Ahondara Lion. The face of the statue has a unique feature. The left side is slightly set back. Depending on the viewing angle, it can resemble a couple. From another angle it looks like a single person. To see this effect, you need to view it from a distance to the west. You almost need to climb onto the roof of the gymnasium.
Searching online reveals this is the only Ahondara Lion. This stone statue is unique.
When people visit they are often surprised. One person wrote that it was lonely. It sat on a quiet hill. Until the 1980s the Ahondara Lion was a prominent sight. It greeted visitors entering Central Park. Many children tried to climb it. They were never successful.
This sculpture hopes to give smiles and brightness. It wants to reach those lost in the world’s difficulties.
The materials are Kitayama stone Aji stone and Tokuyama stone. In the past stones were brought from the Seto Inland Sea to build Osaka Castle. Similarly the Ahondara Lion was constructed using large stones. They were transported from the Seto Inland Sea. They were assembled here in Senri Central Park.
The lion’s head is large. It measures 4.75 meters by 3.4 meters by 3.25 meters. Senri is considered Osaka’s unlucky direction. This lion head was placed here to ward off evil.
The artist Masayuki Nagare also created “PONTA”. It is another sculpture in Senri. You can find it in front of the Saiseikai Senri Hospital.
The Ahondara Lion continues to watch over Senri. It stands as a testament to art’s power. It is a guardian against misfortune. It offers a sense of peace to all who visit.