Osame no Jizo (The Year's Final Jizo Festival Day)
Seasonal EventsWhat Is Osame no Jizo?
December 24th is the day of "Osame no Jizo" (literally, "the final Jizo of the year"). The 24th of every month is considered a festival day ("ennichi") dedicated to Jizo Bosatsu (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva), and the last such festival day of the year is specially called "Osame no Jizo." Jizo Bosatsu has long been deeply beloved by the Japanese people as the guardian deity of children and travelers.
Who Is Jizo Bosatsu?
Jizo Bosatsu (Sanskrit: Ksitigarbha) is a Buddhist deity who vowed to travel through the Six Realms of existence (hell, the realm of hungry ghosts, the animal realm, the realm of conflict, the human realm, and the heavenly realm) to save all beings during the era between the death of the historical Buddha and the future arrival of Maitreya Buddha. Jizo is especially known as the "guardian of children," and small stone statues of Jizo can still be found cherished along roadsides throughout Japan today.
Customs of Jizo Festival Days
- Offerings: Flowers, water, sweets, and a child's favorite foods are offered to the statue.
- Bibs and Hats: It is customary to dress Jizo statues in red bibs and hats—a gesture born from the wish to keep children warm and safe, with the statue standing in for the children themselves.
- Jizo Bon: A large festival held on August 23rd-24th to honor this guardian of children, particularly popular in the Kinki region.
The Meaning of Visiting Jizo on Osame no Jizo
This year-end "Osame no Jizo" is a day to express gratitude to Jizo Bosatsu for a safe year and the healthy growth of children, while asking for continued protection in the year ahead. Take a quiet moment to put your hands together before a nearby Jizo statue and reflect on the year that has passed.