The Japanese god of wealth, prosperity and luck, and a patron for fishermen. He is also one of the Seven Lucky Gods, and the only one to not be adapted from Chinese or Indian deities.
The first child of creation gods Izanagi and Izanami, Ebisu was born deaf and without bones; sometimes stated to be born without legs. Before he was 3 years old he was put in a boat of reeds and cast out into the sea. After being washed ashore he was cared for by the Ainu deity, Ebisu Saburo – who he renamed himself after. With them he overcame his hardships and grew his skeleton on his 3rd birthday, though he still has trouble walking.
Ebisu is a jovial deity, called Smiling or Laughing Ebisu, and is said to be generous.
He’s associated with things that drift from the sea, and becomes enraged at ocean pollution.
You can usually find him wearing a tall hat, holding a rod and a large red sea bream (or a red bass) at Japanese restaurants, fisheries and sometimes corporations.