OSAKA -- A Buddhist statue at a temple here was found vandalized with its head snapped off.

According to Osaka Prefectural Police, a passerby found a stone statue at Hozenji Temple in Osaka's Chuo-ku collapsed with its head snapped off at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police suspect that someone knocked down the statue between late Monday night and Tuesday morning. An employee of the temple noticed nothing abnormal at 11 p.m. on Monday.

The stone statue, which is about 90 centimeters tall, stands next to a popular Buddhist statue called Mizukake Fudo. The upper body of the vandalized statue, which had previously been broken at the waist, had been placed on a base.

According to the temple, its administration office, which is located near Mizukake Fudo, closes at 11 p.m. After that, an employee is on guard. The employee on duty on Monday night did not notice any suspicious sounds.

Affectionately called Ofudo-san by locals, it remains unknown when Mizukake Fudo was introduced at the temple, but it has been there since at least the Meiji Period.

Visitors started to pour water on Mizukake Fudo after World War II, hoping that their wishes would come true. It is said that the statue brings prosperity to restaurants, bars and other entertainment businesses.

Hozenji Temple is located in Dotonbori, in the center of Osaka's Minami district.

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