By the time I arrived, at the gate many people had surrounded Unkei and were praising his work. Standing 8 to 10 meters before the gate, was a largw pine tree. The branch reached the gate and the branches spread out into the blue sky. The contrast of the gree pine needles and the vermilion, lacquered gate was beautiful. Together, the pine tree and the gate produced an enchanting atomosphere. The spectators were undoubtedly of the Meiji era though hte pine tree seemed to have stood since the Kamakura period.

People of many professions and classes were watching, especially rikisha drivers who were passing the time while awaiting their next fare. Some admired the size of the statue, while others cried out that building the statue must be more difficult than giving virth. Others simply exclaimed,"Wow, it's Kongo-Rikishi !!" and said they had never imagined that an image so fantastic and ancient-looking could still be built in the present dat and age. "Kongo-Rikishi" looks very powerful. It is widely known that no one is stronger than he. Even the verenable Yamato-Takeruno-Mikoto is said to be the weaker of the two. Unkei was deeply absorbed in carving wood for the statue and seemed quite unaware of the presence of on-lookers.

Moreover, his dress was so old-fashioned that he stood in sharp contrast to the noisy sight-seeing spectators. As I watched his work, I wondered to myself, "How is it that Unkei is still alive." Something mysterious must have occcuered." Still, Unkei continued to work as hard as any living person could.

A young man watching the scene turned to me and began to praise the sculptor. "Unkei is really great," he said. "We are unworthy of attention. To see him at work, I cannot help but think that there exist only two heroes on this earth." �\ Kongo-Rikishi nand Unkei. Take a look at the way he handles his chisel and mallet. He uses them like they were his own hands. Together, we watched Unkei, carve thick eyebrows and a flared nose with bold gestures and without the slightest hesitation. So impressed was I with his manner that I said to myself. "Even though Unkei's style is broad, he can shape the eyebrow and nose with grace and precision."

As though responding to my thoughts, the young man replied "He is excavating the face, feature by feature." From the wood, just as one would dig rocks out of the sand. That's why he can do it with such ease." Listening his words, I began to understand what sculpture was. "If this is the secret of sculpture," I thought "then anyone can carve an image." All of a sudden, I wanted to create Kongo-Rikishi by myself, and so I quickly made my way back home.