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The bronze kirin statue standing in the center of Nihonbashi draws the attention of visitors as a symbol of Tokyo’s history and future. This bronze kirin was installed together with the current Nihonbashi, which was completed in Meiji 44 (1911). The kirin is a mythical beast from Chinese legend and is regarded as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. The kirin statue at Nihonbashi features a unique design with wings, which ordinary kirin do not have. This represents the wish for Nihonbashi, as the starting point of Japan’s roads, to take flight across the country. (soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
The design of the kirin statue was supervised by architect Yorinaka Tsumaki, and the prototype was created by sculptor Choun Watanabe. The casting was done by Yukisei Okazaki, Watanabe’s father-in-law. While the statue mainly features Western-style design, it also incorporates Japanese motifs, resulting in a blend of Japanese and Western styles. (soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
At the four corners of Nihonbashi, lion statues holding the emblem of Tokyo are also installed. These lion statues were created with reference to the komainu at Tamukeyama Hachimangu in Nara Prefecture, and are intended to serve as guardians of Tokyo. (soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp)
Since the Edo period, Nihonbashi has been the starting point of the five major highways and a place where many people have come and gone. Even today, the kirin statue on this bridge, which evokes its history, is loved by many as a symbol of Tokyo’s prosperity and leap into the future.