Restored Buddhist statue unveiled in Japan temple

A restored Buddhist statue has been unveiled to the public at Todaiji temple complex in Japan's Nara prefecture, a media report said on Tuesday.

A Buddhist rite was held at the temple on Monday for one of the two statues situated at the temple's Nandaimon gate, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The guardian statues are about 800 years old, and created mainly by two master sculptors, Unkei and Kaikei. They are designated as Japanese national treasures.

Restoration work on the two statues began about a year ago, the first in 20 years.

Todaiji, built during the early 8th century, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha.