Ojizo-sama (Tanuki variant)

When I'm in Japan I always find the little monk statues lining on the side of the street to be interesting. This is a tanuki variant that I got from gatcha-pon machine in Osaka. I've recreated the 3D model for printing purpose. By default the fuzzy skin feature is on to simulate the stone texture. The cape is smooth to simulate the real cloth that is commonly worn onto the statue. Ojizō-sama comes from Buddhist tradition. The figure represents Jizō Bosatsu, a bodhisattva known for protecting travelers, children, and souls in difficult transitions. The statues stand guard on roadsides, hillsides, temple grounds, and even tucked between vending machines and apartment blocks. They act as waypoints of compassion in the middle of daily life.