These six old stone Jizo statues have a small round hole on their bodies respectively. Standing along the seacoast, they sink under the water up to their chest at high tide. These halls probably were drilled in that the locals could put the peace of offering into the hole wishing it ran into the sea at high tide. They might imagine that they could thank and sooth the god of the sea by offering through these Jizo statues. These Jizo statues originally stood in a different place from their present location, but we don’t know who erected them for what reason. We also don’t know when and for what purpose they were moved to the current location. They were probably erected for a memorial service for ama (professional female divers) who accidentally died during diving or for whales caught here. Even today, Jizo memorial is held four times a year by the locals, and handmade clothes are also periodically changed.
Licensed tour guide, travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
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