Tatsuko Statue

たつ子像

Est. 60Tazawako, Tohoku

Overview

Standing bronze on the western shore of Lake Tazawa, depicting Princess Tatsuko at the moment she drank from the lake and was transformed into its dragon-spirit guardian.

Sculpted by Funakoshi Yasutake in 1968 and gilded with gold leaf, the 2-meter Tatsuko stands ankle-deep at the water's edge facing the lake. The legend: the village beauty Tatsuko prayed at Goza-no-Ishi for eternal youth, was told to drink from a sacred mountain spring, and on doing so transformed into the dragon-form guardian of the lake. The statue is the most photographed image of Lake Tazawa.

Local tips

Late afternoon backlight from the south gives the gold leaf its strongest catch.

Practical info

Japanese name: たつ子像

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