They say that the Jizō statues have been watching over Nishizu from its time as a fishing town through to the era of Wakasa lacquering.

You can find a Jizō statue nearly anywhere along the network of roads, many of them said to have been caught in fishermen’s nets while out at sea. A symbol for safe fishing, these Jizō statues are decorated with brightly colored makeup, some even painted with lacquerware. The children of Nishizu are the ones who repaint the Jizō’s faces once a year.

You might notice some Jizō statues are wearing a bib called a “bebe.” These bibs once belonged to children who died at a young age, which was not uncommon at the time. It was believed that you could save the child in the afterlife if you dressed a Jizō with their old bib. In Japan, there is a rite of passage called Shichi-Go-San to celebrate the survival of children. Before a child turned three, it was said that they were still “children of god,” which was why they intentionally didn’t name their children until they turned three.

There are over 100 Keshō Jizō statues in Nishizu, protecting the lives of not only the children but also the fishermen and the Kitamae-bune crews.