The Living Statue: Hananuma Masakichi

The statue of Hananuma Masakichi is so life-like and so realistically detailed that you could easily believe you’re looking at a living person. Carved by the illustrious Japanese artist, Masakichi, the statue is a detailed self-portrait.

A pracтιтioner of Japanese doll-making—known as iki-ninguo—Masakichi was already a famed creator of life-sized mannequins. After learning that he was suffering from tuberculosis at the age of 53, Masakichi endeavored to create a monument of himself for his wife. He carved 2,000 individual pieces of wood and glued them together flawlessly to create a reproduction with seems that were so faint, that observers couldn’t even find them with the aid of a magnifying glᴀss. There are no screws or nails present, Masakichi instead used dovetail joints and wooden pegs to hold the sculpture together.

masakichi statue

Masakichi used mirrors to mimic his own body. The size, proportions, and even textures match his own. He used the hair off his body on the statue, carefully drilling tiny holes on the wood and placing each follicle one at a time. Veins, tendons, muscles, and bones seem to lie just below the wood’s surface, but the statue itself is hollow. Terminally ill, Masakichi decided to use his own teeth, toenails, and fingernails to adorn his doppelganger. By the time he completed his work in the city of Yokohama, Japan, in 1885, word of his accomplishment had begun to spread. When he unveiled the sculpture, it’s said that he stood motionless beside it and that no one could tell which was the living Masakichi.

After Masakichi finished his magnum opus, he died nearly a decade later. Despite all his skill, he succumbed to sickness penniless. At some point, the statue left Yokohama and made its way to California. Making appearances at a few different bars, this is where a young Robert Ripley first heard of the lifelike statue. Believe it or not, the statue was an attraction at the San Francisco Art Saloon, appearing on coins that were redeemable for a free drink.

Ripley fell in love with the statue at the bar, but wasn’t able to purchase it until he reached Believe It or Not! fame. By that time, however, the statue had disappeared. Ripley spent 20 years hoping to find the statue again, eventually running into it in a curio shop. He bought the masterpiece for a mere ten dollars in 1934.

masakichi on display

The statue of Masakichi immediately became Ripley’s favorite exhibit, and he sent it to be displayed immediately at the Chicago World Fair. After the fair ended, Masakichi spent much of his time on BION Island, where Ripley was known to engage in all sorts of hijinks with it. Notably, he liked to hide it behind closed doors and windows to scare his guests.

The Masakichi statue remains a standout exhibit in the Ripley’s collection to this day, though it was damaged for a time during the 1994 Northbridge earthquake. Masakichi has since been restored and is now on display at the Ripley’s Odditorium in Amsterdam.deviant art contest footer

Though the life-like statue of Hananuma Masakichi is still in our vast collection, we’re always seeking new, unbelievable art. In honor of our book, Odd Is Art, the Deviant Art’s Unusual Art Contest put out the call to artists all across the internet to show us there stuff. Finalists have a chance for their work to be featured in a Ripley’s museum, along with a trip to our headquarters in Orlando, Florida, to spend a day with the Ripley’s art team. Be sure to check out their entries for even more inspiring and odd art!

Related Posts

The Mysterious Mummy of Ankh Hor: A Tale of Ancient Egypt and Modern Discovery

The Priest’s Journey Through Time An Unexpected Discovery In the halls of Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, a fascinating mystery unfolded. The mummy of Ankh Hor,…

Ancient Egyptian Secrets Unveiled: 4,300-Year-Old Mummy Discovered in Saqqara

Groundbreaking Discovery Sheds Light on Old Kingdom Egypt Egyptian archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery at the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo, unearthing the oldest non-royal mummy ever…

Unveiling the Secrets of a 3,300-Year-Old Hairstyle: A Remarkable Discovery from Ancient Egypt

In a captivating archaeological find, a remarkably preserved ancient Egyptian head has revealed a stunning 3,300-year-old hairstyle, offering a fascinating glimpse into the beauty and grooming practices…

The Enigmatic Mummy of Seti I: A Tale of Ancient Egyptian Royalty

The Discovery and Preservation of a Pharaoh In the heart of ancient Egypt, a remarkable discovery was made that would captivate historians and archaeologists for generations to…

Ancient Peruvian Mummy Reveals 6,500-Year-Old Medical Mystery

Unveiling the Secrets of the Detmold Child The Detmold Child, an ancient Peruvian mummy dating back 6,500 years, has recently captured the attention of scientists and history…

400-Year-Old Child’s Remains Found in Locked “Vampire” Grave in Poland

In the village of Pień, Poland, archaeologists have made a chilling discovery – the 400-year-old remains of a child, believed to be a boy around six or…