About
When you walk through the Azabu-Juban shopping street, you will come upon the quiet plaza “Patio Juban,” a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the lively street. There stands a statue of a small girl wearing red shoes. With her braided hair flipped up behind her and a gentle smile on her face, her figure appears somewhat lonely, yet warmly envelops the hearts of those who visit.
This girl is called “Kimi-chan,” and she was the real-life model for the children’s song “Red Shoes.” Born in 1902 (Meiji 35) in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, she moved to Hokkaido with her mother, Kayo. However, due to the harsh conditions of pioneer life, it became difficult for Kayo to raise young Kimi-chan, and she made the decision to entrust her to the American missionary couple, the Hewitts. Kayo believed that Kimi-chan was living happily in a foreign country, but in reality, Kimi-chan contracted tuberculosis and, without ever going to America, ended her short life at the age of nine in an orphanage here in Azabu-Juban.
This statue was erected by the Azabu-Juban shopping street on February 28, 1989 (Heisei 1). It symbolizes the bond of love between mother and child, and carries the wish for happiness for all who visit. At the base of the statue, a donation box is installed, and the collected funds are donated through UNICEF to underprivileged children around the world. This circle of goodwill has continued without interruption since the day the statue was built, and the total donations have reached about 12 million yen. (azabujuban.or.jp)
Behind the Kimi-chan statue once stood the orphanage where she spent her days. Today, the site is occupied by the Juban Inari Shrine. Although the cityscape has changed with the passage of time, Kimi-chan’s story still lives on in this place. Visitors stop in front of the statue and reflect on her brief life. Through the smile of the girl in red shoes, they are reminded anew of the importance of the bond between parent and child and of happiness.
Quietly standing amidst the bustle of Azabu-Juban, the Kimi-chan statue is a silent place of prayer that connects past and present, and has become a deeply memorable presence in the hearts of those who visit.