Maruyama Jizo
Jizo is a Buddhist deity said to watch over travelers and children, and Jizo statues can be seen all over Japan. They are typically quite small and are often dressed with a red knit cap and bib. The Maruyama Jizo was erected in 1801 to honor the spirits of people who died in the Tenmei Famine (1782–1788) and as a focus of prayers for bountiful harvests. Counting its pedestal, it rises to a height of 3 meters, quite large for a Jizo statue.
Although the massive tsunami of 2011 inundated the area, the Maruyama Jizo was not washed away, and it has come to be seen as a symbol of resilience. Not far from the statue are a small information center and a local community center called We Are One Kitakami.