Originating as a good luck charm in the US some Billiken made it to Japan where they were enshrined as luck gods. Just prior to World War II most of these were destroyed as Japan got rid of foreign things. However after the war a replica of a Billiken that was enshrined in Shinsekai's Luna Park was placed on the top floor of the rebuilt Tsutenkaku Tower as "the god of things as they ought to be". There are also a number other Billiken statues around Shinsekai like the one in this photo. Read more about Billiken here.

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