water children

(mizuko)

the word “mizuko” originally was written on the graves of stillborns or infants. Later the word came to be applied to aborted foetuses, which is now it’s most common usage. Starting around 1970, many temples began offering services to solace the souls of the aborted.

temple advertisement

Jizō in bib and cap

rows of Jizō commemorating mizuko

Memorialized mizuko

Jizō as babies