Jizō, or Ksitigarbha in Sanskrit, is one of the most worshipped deities in Japanese culture. The deity can be found in almost every neighborhood, enshrined in the corner of a temple or on the street as a “stone Buddha” effigy wearing a red bib. Believed to be a guardian of children and deliverer of damned souls, they have been popular since the feudal years. As there exist many local varities of Jizō across Japan, some happen to be quite unusual or even bizarre; but in whatever form, the deity remains…
