Venerated since the Edo period and surviving numerous disasters, the Five Hundred Arhats statues exude a unique beauty borne of resilience, embodying the weight of history. I photographed Takeshi Nagai, who is dedicated to their restoration. Nagai believes restoration is not just about repairing statues but about passing their history and people's prayers to the future. Amidst the loss and destruction of precious cultural assets, I feel a responsibility to respect our shared history and culture and to pass on these heritages. My work aims to convey this message.
