The FBI Boston division announced that it has recovered 22 historic artefacts that were looted after the Battle of Okinawa.
These artefacts had been missing for almost 80 years.
The feds got a tip last year after a Massachusetts family sifted through their late father’s personal effects and came across what seemed to be valuable Asian art. It included portraits, scrolls, pottery, and an ancient map.
"It looked old and it looked valuable," said FBI Boston special agent Geoffrey Kelly, a member of the FBI Art Crime Team.
"And because of this, they did a little research and they determined that at least the scrolls had been entered about 20 years ago in the FBI’s National Stolen Art File.
"And once they realised that they were stolen, they reached out to the FBI.".
Among the artefacts was an unsigned, typewritten letter stating that these items were collected in Okinawa during the last days of World War 2.
The FBI conducted an investigation, and was able to authenticate the artworks.
The 22 artefacts — some of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries — represent a significant piece of Okinawan history. The artefacts include six portraits, a hand-drawn map of Okinawa dating back to the 19th century, and various pieces of pottery and ceramics.
"There’s something very climactic about unfurling a scroll," Kelly said. "I didn’t do it when I recovered it initially because I certainly didn’t want to damage it."
"The first time that they were unfurled, that we could see them, was at the Smithsonian with the experts," he added. "And it really is an exciting moment when you watch the scroll unfurl in front of you, and you just witness history and you witness something that hasn’t been seen by many people in a very long time."
The family’s late father was a World War 2 veteran, but never served in the Pacific Theatre. The local family wants to remain anonymous.
"I think one of the biggest takeaways from this entire investigation is the fact that in this case, the family did the right thing," Kelly said. "They did everything right. They had some questioned artefacts that they thought might not belong here in this country ... And when they realised that it may, in fact, have been looted, cultural property, they did what they should have done, which is call the FBI."
The National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institute helped ensure the artefacts were properly packaged for transport back to Japan.
The governor of Okinawa Prefecture announced the return of the artefacts to Japan in a news conference this month, saying, "It is very meaningful that the FBI, along with others in the US Government, have co-operated to realise this return." — TCA
