Statue-building in Japan goes back to the nineteenth century. The first statue of a historical personality erected in public space was the sculpture of Yamato Takeru set up in the city of Kanazawa in 1880.

The sixty years between 1880 and 1940 saw a rapid growth in statue-building. Around 900 public sculptures were erected throughout the country during this period.

Most of these statues were melted down during World War II for the production of ammunition, but many were rebuilt after the war--and many more were added.

What kind of personalities are depicted in these statues, and for what puropose are these monuments set up?