Oshare Jizō (おしゃれ地蔵)

Oshare Jizo

Oshare Jizo (おしゃれ地蔵) is a small pair of statues located along Kanagawa Prefectural Route 44 in the Hatori district of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Although referred to as Jizo (地蔵), these statues are actually Dosojin (道祖神) — guardian deities of travelers, relationships, and communities.

According to local tradition, they grant any wish made by women. As a token of gratitude, those whose wishes come true apply oshiroi (traditional white face powder) to the statues' faces. Over time, this custom has given them a makeup-like appearance, which led people to call them "Oshare Jizo" — where oshare (おしゃれ) means "stylish" in Japanese.

Reference:

• Fujisawa City Tourist Association. (n.d.). おしゃれ地蔵. 藤沢市・湘南江の島 藤沢市観光公式ホームページ. https://www.fujisawa-kanko.jp/spot/tsujido/11.html