Zojo-ji Temple on Tokyo is the family temple of the Tokugawa Shoguns that ruled Japan from 1600 until 1868. If you’re like me, you know them better as the fictionalized Toranaga Shoguns in James Clavell’s novels Shogun and Gaijin (amazing books, read them!).
The Garden of Unborn Children lines one side of the temple. The statues represent children who were stillborn, miscarried or even aborted.
Parents can choose a statue and decorate it with clothing and toys. Most stick to tradition, but some are a bit more whimsical.
