Jizō Statue

The Jizo Statue is an object in the film My Neighbor Totoro directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. Don't be confused with Dosojin Statue from Spirited Away. The statues portrayed monks (jap. 地蔵).

Plot
When Mei and Satsuki are caught in the rain on the way home from school, they stop by this statue to wait for the rain to subdue. Kanta passes by with an umbrella, and gives it to Mei and Satsuki before running off in the rain to stop Satsuki from refusing to take it.

Near the end of the film Mei go to the Shichikokuyama Hospital. She set on the ground. Behind her there are Jizo statues that are als called Rokujizo.

Purpose
The statues with the look of are widely known in Asia. Jizo statues protect dead spirit on their way to the. In some tale is also mention that jizo statues can dead people back from the underworld. Yiu usually find them on graveyards.

Mizuko
Mizuko (jap. 水子, eng. Sea Spirit) are Jizo statue to protect dead spirits of children, especially child who died at birth or get aborted.