According to a local legend, during the Kyōhō era (1716–1736), a tailor’s apprentice was taking an afternoon nap outside when someone came and stole expensive fabrics from him. With no suspect around, the police arrested a Jizō (Ksitigarbha) statue that “stood by and did nothing.” The statue was dragged across the town to the police headquarters, rousing people’s curiosity. They came flocking to see the unusual sight, and the police charged them a fee for entering the building without permission, demanding fabrics as payment. The apprentice found the stolen fabrics…
