Japanese cast iron zodiac Bunchin weights.

These three iron bunchin weights are 9" long x 1" high x .75" wide and weighs 13.7 ounces.. There are 12 animals on each rod, so perhaps are animals in the Japanese zodiac?

They have what is probably a store label and "MADE IN JAPAN" labels. Guessing "Krispen" is a store? I bought these from a seller in Sugarland, TX and there is a Krispen store in Houston....

Images were not great but I could not pass these up since I have not seen anything like them and the castings are very good, given their modest size.

They are used for holding down paper while doing calligraphy. No idea who made them.