Tokyo

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Mini Guardians

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Fuji Instax photos of Jizō statues in Tokyo, Japan (Kṣitigarbha, a bodhisattva, or enlightenment being in the Buddhist tradition), protector of travelers and the souls of deceased children. It’s common to see these statues in Japanese cemeteries, where they’re often adorned with children’s clothing, such as a knit cap and bib, in addition to toys or other objects left by grieving parents. Ojizō-sama (as he is respectfully called), guards the souls of these children in the afterlife and helps them to cross the mythical Sanzu River (similar to the River Styx in Greek mythology), hiding them beneath the sleeves of his robe to avoid detection by demons.

(Photos Copyright © Chad Fahs)