"Hidden Buddhas," or hibutsu, are Buddhist statues that are kept out of sight, though only a few are kept so permanently. Most are put on display for worshippers at regular intervals: once or twice a year, once every several years, once every 33 or 66 years.

The premise of this appears to be that these statues possess such powerful virtues the believers can feel them without seeing them embodied.

But suppose — posits Liza Dalby, who has written books on geisha and kimono, and also an "autobiography" of the author of "The Tale of Genji" — these "hidden Buddhas" were created for a purpose, to prevent the world from falling into utter chaos. They are alive, with emanative powers, though only a select few can perceive them. And there is an agent abroad killing them off.