Harvest Daikoku

About this work

A carved cypress figure of Daikoku as a child deity, finished with lacquer and mineral pigments. The plump cheeks, serene expression, and rice bales held in both arms evoke prayers for an abundant harvest. Traditional polychrome techniques complement the natural warmth of the wood. Carved in cypress using the traditional yosegi-zukuri (joined-woodblock) technique and finished with lacquer and pigments, this one-of-a-kind sculpture presents the figure of Daikoku—deity of abundance—reimagined as a plump, spirited child. Rice bales and the wish-granting mallet signal harvest prosperity. Grounded in years of Buddhist sculpture conservation research, the work balances playful gesture with disciplined volumetric form, embodying the artist's central theme of yamato-djikara, the enduring vitality of Japanese tradition.