A Buddhist statue stolen from a Japanese temple nearly 13 years ago is returned from South Korea
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 50 centimetres (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.
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. But the Bodhisattva became trapped in a legal dispute after Buseoksa, a South Korean temple in the western coastal city of Seosan, filed a lawsuit, claiming it as the rightful owner.
South Korea's Supreme Court in 2023 ruled in favour of the Japanese temple, ordering the South Korean temple to return the statue. After all the paperwork was completed in January, the statue remained on a 100-day loan to the South Korean temple for a farewell exhibit.
Sekko Tanaka, a former head monk at Kannonji, told reporters that the handover ceremony at the South Korean temple on Saturday was 'truly amicable and we shook hands.' 'A calm after a storm,' he said, adding that he felt relieved to see the dispute resolved while he is still alive.
Tanaka said he hoped South Koreans would visit Tsushima and discover its centuries-old cultural ties with Korea, though there will now be higher security around the statue.
Japan and South Korea have long had disputes over Japanese atrocities during its 1910–1945 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula, though their ties have improved due to shared concern over regional security.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
King Cobra vs Mongoose: Who is more powerful and likely to win a fight? The answer might surprise you
1 2 Nature often is witness to 'survival of the fittest' in the animal kingdom; and amongst these, one of the most fascinating rivalries is between the King Cobra, the world's longest venomous snake, and the Mongoose, a small but fearless mammal popular for hunting dangerous reptiles. Despite the difference in their size and species, tales of battles and feuds between two creatures have always been an interesting subject to people for years! And the two creatures have developed strategies and natural tools that make their encounters rare and exceptional. On one side is the predator with venom powerful enough to kill 11 humans with one bite. On the other side, a fast, intelligent mammal with natural resistance to snake venom and the knack to take on much larger foes. But what happens when these two equally powerful creatures have a battle with each other? Who is more powerful and more likely to win? Who is larger in size When it comes to size, the king cobra clearly wins. It can grow up to 19 feet long and weigh around 6-7 kgs. In comparison, the mongoose is much smaller, reaching to about 2.5 feet in length and weighing between 2 to 5 kgs. The cobra also has the ability to grow up to several feet and 'stand,' which gives it a stronger presence in a fight. However, size alone doesn't guarantee victory. But the king cobra has the height advantage over the mongoose. Who is quicker and agile The mongoose has an edge when it comes to senses and speed. It has sharp hearing skills, good eyesight, and a strong sense of smell, which helps it quickly spot danger or find prey before getting too close. On top of that, it's really fast and is also able to run at speeds up to 32 kmh and make quick turns. This makes it tough for predators like the king cobra to grab a hit. While the King cobra is dangerous, it depends more on flexibility and surprise than speed. It's great at hiding and striking quickly, but it can't move as fast or as smoothly as a mongoose in a chase. So, a mongoose has a speed advantage. Whose attacking style is more lethal The cobra's venom is one of the deadliest in the world. A single bite can inject up to 1000mg of neurotoxic venom, which is enough to kill several humans. Its fangs are designed to deliver a deep, fast injection of poison. However, mongooses have strong jaws and 28 sharp teeth, including incisors, that are powerful enough to crack bones. More importantly, they have resistance to snake venom, allowing them to survive bites that would kill most other animals. While the cobra has powerful fangs, the mongoose has more teeth. The king cobra is among the most famous snakes that prey on other snakes. It's the world's longest venomous snake and uses its powerful venom to subdue even the deadliest snakes like kraits and other cobras. Its excellent sense of smell helps it track down its prey, making it a top predator in many Asian forests. The king cobra's preference for snakes gives it an exclusive diet that keeps it at the top of the food chain. Who is more immune The mongoose's defense is based upon its agility, tough skin, and venom resistance. These characteristics make it a natural snake hunter. On the other hand, the cobra uses its hood, hissing sounds, and size as a threat display, but that doesn't work well against a mongoose. Cobras are ambush hunters, while mongooses are patient predators; they chase down and kill their prey. This gives the mongoose a psychological and tactical edge. Who is more likely to win a fight While the king cobra is certainly dangerous and capable of killing large prey, the mongoose is more likely to win in a one-on-one fight with the King Cobra. The mammal's speed, exceptional immunity to the venom, and intelligence give it a unique edge over the serpent. The mongoose will dodge the cobra's strikes, wait for the right opportunity, and deliver a crushing bite to the cobra's head, which is its most vulnerable spot. That said, if the cobra manages to land a solid bite early, the mongoose could still fall victim to its venom. But in most cases, nature seems to favour the small, clever mammal over the giant serpent, and mostly the mongoose is likely to win the fight.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Displaced 70 years ago, Korean war veterans hope for unification of two Koreas
Gyodong Island (South Korea), Aug 7 (PTI) Kim Cheong San and his wife Min Ok Sun, both in their 90s, never thought their temporary tin-roof shelter built over 70 years ago in Gyodong Island in South Korea would become their permanent home after being displaced in the Korean War. Gyodong-do (do means island in Korean) is situated along the border between North and South Korea. Like the nonagenarian couple Kim and Min, it has scores of displaced North Koreans who were engaged in the Korean War in the 1950s. A bridge connecting Gyodong-do to Ganghwa-do, where the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) Peace Trail is located, was built in 2014, allowing tourists to visit the area. Tourists have been visiting the area to see Daeryong village and the Daeryong Market, which has a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the 1970s. Kim, born in 1930 in Hwanghae-do (now in North Korea), was a member of the UN8240 Eulji Tiger Brigade Association, a guerrilla unit. This unit helped US Army soldiers in rescue operations for US Air Force pilots across the northern side, their familiar territory, after the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950. Min, born in the same village as her husband, came to Gyodong-do when she was only 17. But the country was divided after the war and they never had a chance to go back. Many North Koreans, including this couple, settled temporarily in Gyodong Island when the war ended on July 27, 1953. 'The villagers here helped us refugees to settle in by building tin-roof shelters. Now, over the years, our temporary abodes have turned into forever homes," Kim says. 'I never thought I would marry and live my whole life here. I was just longing for peace and wanted to return to my hometown to my parents and get married there, in front of them," Min said. The couple has three sons – all well settled in different cities of South Korea. The couple's sons and grandchildren visit them quite often. Like them, there are a few more Korean War veterans in the island for whom the memories of the bygone era and the pain of Korea's division are still fresh. Chae Ja Eok, born in 1931 in Hwanghae-do, was also a member of the UN8240 Eulji Tiger Brigade Veterans Association. He recalls how their job was to help in rescuing the US Air Force personnel stuck in North Korea after the American jets were shot down. After becoming an official unit, they were armed with artillery and also given US Army uniforms. He was only 19 when he came to Gyodong-do. On August 15, 1945, Korea was finally liberated from Japanese colonial rule. However, this happiness was short-lived as in the same month, the Soviet Army entered North Korea and then came the 38th Parallel, Chae says. The 38th Parallel was initially established as a temporary border by the US and the Soviet Union after World War II to divide the areas of the Japanese surrender. It led to the formation of North and South Korea and now the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a heavily fortified buffer zone separating the two countries. 'And so, in less than a month since liberation, the Korean peninsula had to go into another suffering," Chae says. 'The pain that we, the displaced people, have gone through is unfathomable." His guerrilla unit was helping the United Nations Command (UNC) to proceed to North Korea. They succeeded in occupying Kaesong, also spelt Gaeseong (a city in North Korea), and waited for the UNC to take over. 'When the UNC couldn't be there on time, we had no choice but to retreat to South Korea," he recalls the events, known as the January 4th Retreat, in 1951. 'A lot of people were displaced during this process. There were many refugees and young people who were engaged in the war but didn't have a place to go after the end of the war. They took refuge in the islands of South Korea," the veteran informs. Gyodong-do was one of them. North Korea's scenic Songak Mountain lies right across Uidu Dondae, a military-controlled area, on Ganghwa-do, where the Ganghwa Peace Observatory is located. Apart from watching that side through binoculars, Chae says that in the past 70 years, he has learnt about life in North Korea only through the media. top videos View all However, even after living almost their entire life on the South Korean side, many of these war veterans long to visit their hometown at least once before they die. They hope that the two countries can be unified again. 'If Germany could become one, I think Koreans can also overcome their differences. We should leave our past behind and walk into the future as one Korea of one ethnicity," Min says. PTI GSP NPK ZH NSA NSA (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 12:15 IST News agency-feeds Displaced 70 years ago, Korean war veterans hope for unification of two Koreas Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Funds unused, compensatory afforestation falls short in state, green cover remains static
Gurgaon: Haryana, the state with lowest forest cover in India, sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for compensatory afforestation, but utilised just 55% of the amount in the five years between 2019 and 2024. That leaves Rs 450 crore – money that was meant to carry out plantation drives – unused. This discrepancy was reported by the Haryana forest department in a July 11 submission to the central empowered committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, which is scrutinising the efficacy of compensatory afforestation (CA) drives and the use of CA funds across all states and Union territories. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon These drives, which involve planting saplings or seeds, are mandatory under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) whenever forest land is given to carry out development work such as construction of industries and roads. The scheme, introduced by the central govt in 2004, is critical for a project's green clearance. More importantly, it is meant to help sustain the percentage of green cover in areas that are rapidly being concretised and make up for ecological damages. The forest department said in its submission to CEC that it carried out plantation drives over 5,000 hectares in five years. It did not specify where the drives were carried out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover the AI-powered language app that's changing how everyone learns Talkpal AI Undo Activists and experts on Wednesday said that while plantation funds remain unutilised, the state has seen little change in its forest cover. A study of satellite imagery by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) shows that forest cover in the state increased 28sqm, or 2,800 hectares, between 2019 and 2023. "Haryana's forest cover is merely 3.5% of the state's geographical area. At such a time, when the state has critically low forest cover, nearly Rs 450 crore remains unutilised under CAMPA," said Gaurav Bansal, a Supreme Court advocate who frequently takes up cases related to violations of environmental laws. Vaishali Rana, an environmentalist, said, "The data points to a fundamental disconnect between plantation targets and actual forest growth. Without ecological planning, site selection, and post-plantation care, you can spend crores and still not get a forest."Rana added that the state govt should form a committee to audit compensatory afforestation drives. Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Vineet Kumar Garg told TOI that the recent FSI figures don't fully reflect Haryana's plantation efforts. "First, FSI uses satellite imagery that isn't high-resolution. As a result, plantations carried out last year or this year may not show up in the data. The latest FSI report is based on satellite images from Oct 2022 — so, it misses most recent plantations. Moreover, even current plantations need three to four years to grow enough to register as canopy cover," Garg said. On funds, he said data submitted to CEC highlights "fund allocation, not actual spending". "For example, in 2024–25, the annual plan of operation (APO) proposed Rs 250 crore. Of this, only Rs 110 crore was approved, and that too after the monsoon, which delayed plantation work. Actual expenditure was just Rs 79 crore. This was not included in the data submitted to CEC," the PCCF said.
