These Fuji Instax photos capture Jizō statues found throughout Tokyo, Japan. Revered in Buddhism as the protector of travelers and the souls of deceased children, the Jizō is often seen in Japanese cemeteries. Respectfully called Ojizō-sama, these statues are frequently adorned with items left by grieving parents, such as knit caps, bibs, or toys. According to tradition, Jizō guards these souls in the afterlife, helping them cross the Sanzu River (comparable to the Greek River Styx) while hiding them beneath his robes to avoid detection by demons.
(Photos Copyright © Chad Fahs)