Haniwa=clay figures at a burial mound

Haniwa are terra cotta representations of "everyday" people (doing their daily jobs) as well as warriors and animals who serve as company and guardians for the high-ranking dead. All are usually buried in a large earthen grave called a "kofun." The group pictured is outside the grave rather than inside, which is rare. There are some exhumed haniwa at the Tokyo National Museum at Ueno Park. (enlarge the photo for detail; some of these could have been replaced since we were here before, almost four years ago. The contemporary-styled ones on top of the kofun are recent since then)