Jizo (Ojizo-sama). Granite statue #2

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In Japan, Ksitigarbha, commonly known as Jizō or Ojizō-sama with respect, stands out as one of the most beloved Japanese deities. His statues are frequently spotted along roadsides and in cemeteries. Traditionally, he is viewed as a protector of children, particularly those who passed away before their parents. He has been revered as the guardian of mizuko souls, the spirits of stillborn, miscarried or aborted fetuses, in the ritual of mizuko kuyō (water child offerings), which literally translates to "offering to water children". In Japanese mythology, it is said that the souls of children who die before their parents are unable to cross the mythical Sanzu River on their path to the afterlife because they have not accumulated enough good deeds and because they have caused their parents suffering. It is believed that Jizō saves these souls from having to endlessly pile stones on the riverbank as penance by concealing them in his robe, allowing them to hear mantras.