Japanese Tip

Ojizō-sama - See Short Story Below

Ojizou - sama, the guardian of children, particularly children who died before their parents.
Statutes are made more baby-like to resemble the children he protects.
In Japanese mythology, souls of children who die before their parents are unable to cross the Sanzu River on their way to the afterlife because they have not accumulate enough good deeds and because they have made the parents suffer. It is believed that Jizō saves these souls from having to pile stones eternally on the bank of the river as penance, by hiding them from demons in his robe, and letting them hear mantras.
little pile of stones and pebbles often accompany the Jizō statues as they are placed there by people hoping to shorten the time children spend suffering in the underworld. The statues can sometimes be seen wearing tiny children's clothing or bibs, or with toys, put there by grieving parents to help their lost ones and hoping that Jizō would specially protect them.
As with most Shinto god, offerings are common place there.
Also, many of the shinto god have "changed jobs" over the years. These days Jizō also
- Ojizou - sama protect children from a serious illness. (natural extension of his traditional duties in the underworld)
- Ojizou - sama now help protect other souls who have to suffer in the underworld. (Hence, why his statues are common in cemeteries)
- Ojizou - sama now also protective deity of travelers. (roadside statues of Ojizou - sama are a common sight in Japan)
- Firefighters are also believed to be under the protection of Ojizou - sama
Pictures below left is Tokyo - super weird to see. I have walk by this place many times on the way to meet a specific large customer account.

File:Zojoji 01.jpg

Ojizou sama
	*ROMAJI*	LANGUAGE	*ENGLISH*
Narrator	Mukashi mukashi, ojiisan to obaasan ga imashita.	むかし　むかし、おじいさんと　おばあさんが　いました。	Once upon a time, there was an old man and an old woman.
Narrator	Totemo bimboo deshita.	とても　びんぼうでした。	They were very poor.

Narrator	Ashita wa oshoogatsu desu.	あしたは　おしょうがつです。	Tomorrow is New Year.
Old Woman	Onaka ga suita. Demo tabemono ga arimasen.	おなかが　すいた。　でも、　たべものが　ありません。	I’m hungry, but there isn’t any food.
Old Man	Okane mo arimasen. Doo shimashoo?	おかねも　ありません。　どう　しましょう？	We have no money either. What will we do?

Old Woman	Kasa o tsukurimashoo. Soshite mura de urimashoo.	かさを　つくりましょう。　そして、むらで　うりましょう。	Let’s make hats. And then let’s sell them in the village.
Old Man	Ja, soo shimashoo.	じゃ、そう　しましょう。	OK, let’s do that.
Narrator	Ojiisan to obaasan wa isshoni, kasa o itsutsu tsukurimashita. Kazoemashoo, hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu.	おじいさんと　おばあさんは　いっしょに、かさを　五つ　つくりました。　かぞえましょう。　一つ、二つ、三つ、四つ、五つ。	Together the old man and old woman made five hats. Let’s count them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Narrator	Ojiisan wa mura ni ikimashita. Demo, daremo kaimasen deshita.	おじいさんは　むらに　いきました。　でも、だれも　かいませんでした。	The old man went to the village. But no one bought anything.
Old man	A, yuki da! Shikata ga nai. Uchi ni kaerimashoo.	あ、ゆきだ！しかたがない。　うちに　かえりましょう。	Oh, snow! Oh well, it can’t be helped. I’ll go home.

Narrator	Kaeri ni muttsu no ojizoosama ga arimashita.	かえりに　六つの　おじぞうさまが　ありました。	On the way home, there were six Buddhist statues.
Old Man	Ojizoosama, samui deshoo.	おじぞうさま、　さむいでしょう。	Oh Buddhist statues, you must be cold.
Narrator	Ojiisan wa, kasa o agemashita.	おじいさんは、　かさを　あげました。	The old man gave them the hats.

Narrator	Ojiisan wa, jibun no kasa mo agemashita.	おじいさんは、じぶんの　かさも　あげました。	The old man also gave his own hat.
Old Man	Doozo. Chotto furui desu. Gomen nasai.	どうぞ。　ちょっと　ふるいです。　ごめんなさい。	Here you are. It’s a little bit old. I’m sorry.

Old man	Ojizoosama ni kasa o agemashita. Okane wa arimasen. Gomen nasai.	おじぞうさまに　かさを　あげました。おかねは　ありません。　ごめんなさい。	I gave the hats to the Buddhist statues. There’s no money. I’m sorry.
Old woman	Daijoobu desu yo. Totemo ii koto o shimashita ne.	だいじょうぶですよ。　とても　いい　ことを　しましたね。	That’s OK. You did a very good thing.

Narrator	Tabemono wa arimasen.	たべものは　ありません。	There is no food.
Old woman	Ocha o doozo.	おちゃを　どうぞ。	Here is some tea.
Old Man	Itadakimasu.	いただきます。	Thank you.

Narrator	Yonaka ni, hen na oto ga kikoemashita.	よなかに、へんな　おとが　きこえました。	In the middle of the night, a strange noise was heard.
Old Woman	Ojiisan, kowai!	おじいさん、こわい！	Grandpa, I’m scared!
Old Man	Mi ni ikimashoo.	に　きましょう。	Let’s go take a look.

Old Man	Uwaa! Okome! Yasai! Osake!	うわあ！　おこめ！　やさい！　おさけ！	Wow! Rice! Vegetables! Sake!
Old Woman	Dare kara deshoo?	だれから　でしょう？	Whom could it be from?

Old Woman	Ojiisan, mite!	おじいさん、みて！	Grandpa, look!
Old man	A! ojizoosama, arigatoo gozaimasu!	あ！おじぞうさま、ありがとう　ございました！	Oh, it's the Buddhist statues. Thank you very much!

Old Man	Akemashite omedetoo gozaimasu!	あけまして　おめでとう　ございます！	Happy New Year!
Old Woman	Akemashite omedetoo gozaimasu!	あけまして　おめでとう　ございます！	Happy New Year!