KYOTO--Worshippers filled Chorakuji temple here on May 1 for the rare chance to see a statue of a Buddhist deity that has been shown only on the ascension of a new emperor, in principle.

Visitors offered a prayer when the Juntei Kannon statue came into view at the temple in the city's Higashiyama Ward after Junzan Makino, chief priest of the temple, opened the miniature shrine housing it.

The 40-centimeter-tall statue of the deity for wisdom and conjugal harmony stands on a lotus flower guarded by two dragons.

In the previous imperial succession, it was exhibited in the fall of 1990, after Akihito became emperor in January 1989 following the death of his father, Hirohito.

The current exhibition marks the ascension of Crown Prince Naruhito as new emperor after Akihito abdicated in favor of his son at the end of April.

“It is deeply moving to be able to exhibit the statue amid a celebratory mood,” Makino said.

According to the temple, the statue is believed to have been sculptured by Saicho, a Japanese Buddhist monk who is credited with founding the Tendai school of Buddhism, when he opened the temple in 805 at the order of Emperor Kanmu.

The statue has been exhibited when a new emperor was enthroned and on some other limited occasions in prewar years.

The Juntei Kannon statue will be shown to the public through June 16.