About two dozen ancient Japanese artifacts looted from Okinawa during World War II, all of which were recently found in a Massachusetts household's attic, were repatriated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to a public release by the FBI, the agency fulfilled the return of the 22 objects to its home in the island nation after almost eight decades with help from the Department of Defense and the Smithsonian Institution.
How the FBI Came Across With the Historic Artifacts of Japan
The FBI began its investigation of the case last January 2023, following receipt of a complaint from an unnamed Massachusetts family that found some notable-looking items while rummaging through their deceased father's belongings in his attic.
The father was a WWII veteran but he never served in Japan.
Information about who looted the historical objects and how they ended up in the family's possession was not provided in the bureau's release, however, details regarding the collection of the artifacts in Okinawa were found in a typed letter attached with the items.
Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly, FBI Boston Field Office's art theft coordinator and FBI Art Crime Team member in charge of the case, explained that the family approached him after finding what seemed like "very valuable Asian art."
"There were some scrolls, there were some pottery pieces, there was an ancient map. They looked old and valuable," recalled Kelly. "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."
Pertinent documents and treasures were looted from the Ryukyu Kingdom during the WWII Battle of Okinawa, and in 2001, the Prefectural Board of Education registered a substantial portion of the 22 artifacts to the National Stolen Art File following the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.
All in all the FBI has accounted for six 18th and 19th-century painted scrolls, various ancient ceramics, and an intricately hand-drawn map of Okinawa.
"When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history," expressed Kelly.
Important Japanese Artifacts Depicting Okinawan Royalty
After the set of historical objects was fully recovered by the FBI, they were promptly transported to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC to be examined ahead of their shipment back to Japan.
There, Kelly witnessed the scrolls unfurled for the first time in decades, which revealed grand portraits of Okinawan royalty depicted in vivid accents of reds, golds, and blues.
"It's an exciting moment when you watch the scroll [unfold] in front of you," said Kelly. "You witness history, and you witness something that hasn't been seen by many people in a very long time."
After passing the checks, the objects were then flown by Colonel Scott DeJesse alongside soldiers from the US Army's Monuments Men and Women back to Okinawa prefecture, where the artifacts were received by local officials in a ceremonial handover last Friday, March 15.
According to the release, a formal repatriation ceremony is to be held in the country on a later date that is yet to be specified.
"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 explained. "They had some questioned artifacts that they thought might not belong here in this country."
"They checked the National Stolen Art File," he added. "And when they realized that they may have been looted cultural property, they did what they should have done, which is call the FBI. And we're very grateful for them for all the assistance they gave us."
