Japanese artist sculpts Buddha statues from kids' snacks

An artist has sculpted little statues of Lord Buddha by using children's snack called "umaibo."

Koshi Kawachi, has made 107 statues from the puffed corn stick snacks, which he calls "Umaibutsu" (tasty Buddhha), and has kept them under a glass case at his home, the Japan Times reported.

The 40-year-old artist, who is making his 108th statue, models them on those crafted by Enku, a monk and sculptor from the Edo Period.

Kawachi has held a public event in April, in Tokyo National Museum's exhibition featuring Enku, where he carved a Tasty Buddha using an electric file.

The sculptor said that if Enku was alive today, he would have sculpted them out of Umaibo.

Kawachi, who started making his Tasty Buddhas after his grandfather died, said that he wanted to turn his sorrow into art and wants people to enjoy his work however they want.