This statue was created after World War II as a memorial for Japanese mothers and children who were trapped in Manchuria and couldn’t return to Japan in the chaos at the end of the war.
Many died in exile or were separated from their families forever. The statue was built to comfort their spirits and to express a collective prayer of “never repeat the mistake of war.”
It once stood by the Sumida River, protecting travelers, and was moved to Sensō-ji in 1890. Today it survives as a weathered, ancient monument – a quiet reminder that Jizō is watching over people in every world, from old Edo riverbanks to modern Asakusa.
It’s very old – the exact year is unknown, but traditions suggest dates as early as the 12th or 14th century, which would make it one of the oldest stone monuments in Tokyo.
Kannon (Avalokiteśvara) on one side – the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion
Seishi (Mahāsthāmaprāpta) on the other – the bodhisattva of wisdom and spiritual power.
Edo-period time signal
The bell was re-cast in 1692 (Genroku 5) by order of the 5th shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
In the Edo period, bells like this were the city’s timekeepers. Sensō-ji’s bell was one of the official time bells for Edo, ringing at fixed times so people in the city could set their day by the sound.
Bashō’s haiku
The bell is famous in literature because Matsuo Bashō wrote about it in his haiku:
花の雲 鐘は上野か 浅草か
Hana no kumo / kane wa Ueno ka / Asakusa ka
“Clouds of blossoms—
is that the bell in Ueno
or in Asakusa?”
He was living across the river in Fukagawa and could hear the bell from there.
Survival and today
During World War II many temple bells were melted down for metal, but this bell was spared because of its historical importance.
Today it’s still rung every morning at 6:00 a.m. by a monk, marking the start of the day in Asakusa, and again on New Year’s Eve as the joya no kane (New Year’s bell).
Who is enshrined there?
It is dedicated to Benzaiten (Benten), the only female member of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods.
She is a goddess of music, arts, wisdom, water, and good fortune.
In Japan he is especially loved as:
Protector of children and babies, including miscarried or stillborn children
Guardian of travelers and people in danger
A guide for souls who suffer in the afterlife
The bright red cloths (よだれかけ yodarekake) are offerings:
Red is a protective color in Japanese folk belief – it’s thought to ward off illness and evil.
Parents and grandparents often give a bib or little hat to Jizō
to pray for a child’s health or safety, or
to comfort a child who has died and ask Jizō to guide and care for them.
29nov25