Kounji Temple (Imo Jizo)
Main Image Imo Jizo (Sweet Potato Jizo, Stone Ksitigarbha Bosatsu) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
Impression TagsWarmthGentlenessDepth
DescriptionOn a small hill above Kounji Temple on Omishima Island stands an extraordinary little stone Jizo Bodhisattva holding sweet potatoes in both hands. Called Imo Jizo, the figure honors Asami Kichijuro (1673–1755), who is remembered for bringing sweet potato plants from Satsuma to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea during the Edo period. The new crop is said to have helped islanders survive a devastating famine. The roughly 50 cm figure is worshipped in a small hall beyond the temple cemetery, beside a large camphor tree. It is a rare, deeply human expression of a benefactor being revered as a compassionate Jizo. The place is an Ehime Prefectural Historic Site, though this designation is not a national Important Cultural Property status for the statue itself. Imabari City's official tourism guide confirms free, year-round, all-day access and parking for five vehicles. A memorial observance takes place in autumn.
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