Buddhist statue stolen from Japanese temple returned from South Korea after 13 years
A 14th century Korean Buddhist statue stolen from a Japanese temple nearly 13 years ago was returned on Monday, following a years-long legal battle between
Japan and
South Korea over its ownership that had further strained sensitive ties between the two Asian neighbours.
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Dozens of temple members and local residents standing by the roadside applauded to welcome the statue as a truck carrying a wooden container with it arrived at Kannonji, a temple on Japan's western island of Tsushima.
The statue is expected to be kept at a local museum following a ceremony at the temple later in the day.
The gilt bronze statue Bodhisattva – a female goddess of mercy – is depicted in a sitting position and measures about 50cm (20 inches) in height. It has been designated a cultural asset of the region and was one of two statues stolen in 2012 from Kannonji by thieves who were looking to sell them in South Korea.
A box containing the statue of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is carried into Kannon Temple on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Monday. Photo: Kyodo
The South Korean government had returned the other statue to the Japanese temple soon after the authorities recovered it from the thieves, who were arrested and charged.
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