A collaborative effort between the FBI Boston, the family of a deceased Massachusetts man, and multiple organizations has successfully returned 22 historic artifacts looted after the Battle of Okinawa during World War II to Japan. These artifacts, missing for over 70 years and discovered in January 2023, were found in the attic of the late man's home. Among the returned items are six scrolls from the 18th and 19th centuries, various pieces of pottery and ceramic ware, and a hand-drawn map of Okinawa. The recovery was led by Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly of the FBI's Art Crime Team. The return of these artifacts, representing a significant part of Okinawan history, was facilitated with the help of the Okinawa Prefecture, the National Museum of Asian Art, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. military.
Thieves disguised as Boston Police stole $500 million worth of art at the Gardner Museum 34 years ago today. No arrests or works have been recovered. The Museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works.
Thieves disguised as Boston Police stole $500 million worth of art at the Gardner Museum 24 years ago today. No arrests or works have been recovered. The Museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works.
Quiz: Do you recognize the art stolen in the Gardner museum heist? https://t.co/RyaFVhlNKj
Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist happened 34 years ago https://t.co/COibvXLqzs
FBI returns 22 looted artifacts to Japan after discovery in Massachusetts attic https://t.co/UNnDqplJfh
Twenty-two historic 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, the FBI said. https://t.co/E1y7VY5Vc6
22 cultural treasures believed lost during the Battle of Okinawa have been found in the United States and returned to Okinawa Prefecture. https://t.co/OPuZYjpcIs
FBI returns 22 artifacts looted after Battle of Okinawa to Japan following Massachusetts family's discovery https://t.co/B7yqmmrzsY
Six scrolls dated to the 18th and 19th centuries, including a hand-drawn map of Okinawa, various pieces of pottery and ceramic ware, and a typed note that helped the FBI confirm the items were stolen at the end of the war. https://t.co/nmokIL62FT
The FBI was tipped off to the looted historical pieces in January 2023 when the family of a recently deceased Massachusetts man reported finding the artifacts in his attic. https://t.co/nmokIL5uQl
“When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history. … It's really important for us as stewards of artifacts and cultural patrimony to make every effort that we can to see that these go back to the civilizations..." https://t.co/nmokIL62FT
Boston's FBI office on Friday handed over 22 artifacts to authorities in Okinawa eight decades after the items were stolen from the Japanese island at the end of World War II. https://t.co/J2lBYgs8eB
FBI Boston office returns 22 artifacts looted from Okinawa after WWII - https://t.co/ASikKlRaie
Massachusetts family finds stolen Japanese artifacts in late father's attic https://t.co/YUSWLe4UqQ
22 artifacts looted after Battle of Okinawa returned to Japan: Twenty-two historic artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan after a family from Massachusetts discovered… https://t.co/nwBsKB3PrC #japannews #japantoday
22 artifacts looted after the Battle of Okinawa returned to Japan by Mass. family https://t.co/7A0aC5sB9E
A hand-drawn map of Okinawa from the 19th century is among 22 historic artifacts returned to Japan one year after they were discovered in a Massachusetts home, according to the Boston office of the FBI. https://t.co/518aHJqsXR
22 artifacts looted after the Battle of Okinawa returned to Japan https://t.co/hXEFacEPhd
Twenty-two artifacts looted after the Battle of Okinawa returned to Japan https://t.co/WB1H7F6uVP
FBI Boston recovers nearly two dozen Japanese artifacts lost during World War II https://t.co/bkIRIzOSgC
The FBI says they had not been seen for almost eighty years after being looted following the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. The FBI says a local family found the items when going through their late father’s things after he passed away. https://t.co/JqZ6BYE3dj
A Massachusetts family that found looted World War II artifacts in their late father's personal effects "did the right thing" and alerted the FBI. https://t.co/sBwILlj3xz
Boston FBI recovers historic stolen Japanese artifacts | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/j59muazgam
#FBI Boston Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly, a member of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, recovered these historic artifacts and orchestrated their return to Okinawa. You can hear directly from him to learn more about how this unfolded. https://t.co/i2VGr8jmWo
#FBI Boston has recovered 22 artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa and had been missing for almost 80 years. We thank @Okinawa_Pref, @MOFAJapan_en, @NatAsianArt, @RealNCIS, & the U.S. military for assisting us in returning them. https://t.co/ORlrpntqx5 https://t.co/iJTDxK9Tsm
Welcome home! After over 70 years in a private U.S. estate and long overdue, these 22 priceless artifacts are back where they belong -- in Okinawa. Thanks to all the men and women of the @FBI, @Okinawa_Pref, @NatAsianArt, @MOFAJapan_en, @RealNCIS, & the U.S. military that made… https://t.co/Gqa1qhODtM