Did you know that at the gates of shrines there are usually two guardian statues who serve as protectors? Have you noticed that one always has their mouth open and the other has their mouth closed? This is to symbolize the fact that the guardian statues will guard the shrine from beginning to end, or あ(a) to ん(un). あ is the first letter of the Japanese alphabet and is made with an open mouth, while ん is the last letter of the Japanese alphabet and is made with a closed mouth!