Massachusetts family finds 22 WWII artifacts looted from Japan in their late father's attic

Nearly two dozen artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan after a family from Massachusetts discovered them in their late father's personal items. 

Many of the artifacts recovered depict Okinawan royalty, which indicated that the pieces were stolen in the final days of World War II, according to the FBI.

In January 2023, the family contacted the FBI Boston Field Office when they discovered the antiques in the attic of their deceased father, who was a World War II veteran but never served in the Pacific Theater. 

'They came across some what appeared to be very valuable Asian art. There were some scrolls, there were some pottery pieces, there was an ancient map,' Special Agent Geoffrey J. Kelly said.

'They looked old and valuable. 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.' 

More than 20 artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan including this tapestry that depicts Okinawan royalty

A hand drawn map of Okinawa dating to the 19th century was one of the items recovered

In January 2023, a Massachusetts family contacted the FBI Boston Field Office when they discovered the antiques in the attic of their deceased father

The National Stolen Art File is a database for stolen art in the U.S. and abroad that is available to the public to help identify items of stolen art, antiquities and other items. 

Important documents and treasures of the Ryukyu Kingdom were taken during the World War II Battle of Okinawa, and In 2001 the Prefectural Board of Education in Japan registered many of these missing articles with the National Stolen Art File, according to the FBI. 

The 22 items found in Massachusetts include six painted scrolls from the 18th-19th centuries - three of which were one piece and appear to have been divided into three pieces - and a hand-drawn map of Okinawa dating back to the 19th century.

Various pieces of pottery and ceramics were also recovered including detailed plates and bowls and a turtle statue.

A typewritten letter was also found with the artifacts in Massachusetts that helped confirm they were looted during the last days of World War II.

The scrolls were unfurled for the first time in many years after the FBI transported the artifacts from Massachusetts to Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., and revealed portraits of Okinawan royalty in vivid reds, golds, and blue accents. 

Various pieces of pottery and ceramics were also recovered including detailed plates and bowls and a turtle statue

The 22 items found in Massachusetts included this vase and six painted scrolls from the 18th-19th centuries, three of which were one piece and appear to have been divided into three pieces

A typewritten letter was also found with the artifacts in Massachusetts that helped confirm they were looted during the last days of World War II

'When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history,' said Kelly.

'It's an exciting moment when you when you watch the scroll unfurl in front of you. You witness history, and you witness something that hasn't been seen by many people in a very long time.' 

Denny Tamaki, the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, announced the return of the artifacts on March 15.

'This case highlights the important role the public plays in recognizing and reporting possible stolen art,' said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of FBI Boston.

'We'd like to thank the family from Massachusetts who did the right thing in reaching out to us and relinquishing these treasures so we could return them to the people of Japan.'