This foreboding fellow is hidden away in Sumiyoshi Shrine, located south of Hakata station and Canal City. According to the inscription next to it, he was a sumo wrestler in the early 19th century. I guess sumo wrestlers used to be muscular, not fat? Either that, or the statue's artist was prone to flattery.
I'm not sure what the connection could be between a sumo wrestler and a religious shrine. Usually, you see statues of foxes, warriors or historical figures at places like this. As far as I know, this is the only place where a sumo wrestler is revered.
The statue's eyes seemed to be made of gold. They gave it an eerily life-like (yet demonic) look, as if it were one of those pantomimes who pretend to be a statue.
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