Todai-ji temple history to be featured in NHK Buratamori special

The NHK program ‘Buratamori’ will broadcast a 78-minute special on September 19, focusing on the 1,300-year history of Todai-ji in Nara. Hosted by Tamori, the episode explores the origins of the temple and the construction of the Great Buddha.

The program aims to uncover the background of why the massive Buddha was commissioned and investigates historical theories regarding whether the statue was originally intended for a different location. It will also examine the continuous tradition of the ‘Shunie’ ritual held since the Nara period, the impact of the monk Ganjin, and the immense human effort required to complete the monumental construction project.

Tamori expressed admiration for the site, noting the incredible feat of completing such a project through manual labor and the significance of its preservation for 1,300 years.