Boshi Jizo (Honda Koji Shokai)

The Boshi Jizo figure is produced by Honda Koji Shokai, depicting the revered Jizo Bosatsu in a mother-and-child composition known as Boshi-Jizo. Standing at 110mm tall, this figure captures the gentle, protective spirit of one of Japan's most beloved Buddhist deities. Jizo Bosatsu is known as the guardian deity of children and travellers, often referred to as the "earth bearer." Stone statues of Jizo are said to carry spiritual power for protection and longevity that predates Buddhist beliefs in Japan. The Boshi-Jizo specifically represents the bond between mother and child, and Jizo is also believed to protect the spirits of children who have passed away. According to tradition, children who die before their parents cannot cross the river to the afterlife and must instead spend their days building stone towers to gain merit. Travellers often build stone towers near Jizo statues as an act of kindness to reduce the children's burden. This figure stands approximately 110mm tall and is crafted as a prepainted collectible. Honda Koji Shokai has rendered the Jizo in its traditional form, reflecting the stone incarnations found at temple complexes like Senso-ji in Tokyo, where Boshi-Jizo statues are sometimes partly covered with red woolen clothing as offerings.