The "Komekin" statue of Kintoki

The "Komekin" statue of Kintoki is located in the town of Kudoyama, Wakayama Prefecture.

Sakata no Kintoki—known in his childhood as Kintaro—is a figure who appears in works such as *Konjaku Monogatarishu* (Tales of Times Now Past).

He was one of the "Four Guardian Kings" (Shitenno) serving Minamoto no Yorimitsu and is said to have been a real warrior during the late Heian period.

A child of prodigious strength raised on Mt. Ashigara in Sagami Province, he was discovered by Minamoto no Yorimitsu and reportedly participated in campaigns such as the subjugation of Shuten-doji on Mt. Oe.

Kintaro is often depicted as a young boy and is a popular subject for the dolls displayed during the Boys' Festival in May.

This work was created by the ceramic artist Shohei Nanki (real name: Shohei Ibata) (1884-1920) standing over two meters tall, such a large bust is considered a rarity nationwide.

In the early Taisho era, Shohei built a kiln on Higashiyama—supported by local volunteers in Kudoyama—and devoted himself to pottery making.

In 1916, he developed a new kiln site at Kunugiyama in Sema, but the following year he was invited to Furoken on Mt. Nachi, where he pioneered the "Ginryu-yaki" style; he passed away in 1920 at the age of 44.

His works—ranging from three-dimensional figures like Buddhist statues and animals to vessels such as tea sets, incense burners, plates, and jars—are characterized by a distinctive, rustic charm that highlights the unique qualities of Kudoyama clay; consequently, his pottery is known as "Kudoyama-yaki" or "Shohei-yaki."

A 10-minute walk from Kudoyama Station on the Nankai Koya Line.