PARTNER

OBJECT ID

ddr-njpa-8-4 (sj2.001)

PARENT COLLECTION

Nippu Jiji Photograph Archive, "Scenery (Japan)" Collection

DESCRIPTION

Caption on reverse [translation]: "Rengo Photograph No. 3 October 11, 1930.
Haniwa statue from Emperor Nintoku are to be sold away One of a kind treasure in excellent condition for twenty thousand yen. Imperial Household Museum in Ueno Park is holding Haniwa Clayware Exhibit from the 16th to 31st with over 80 items, from various academic organizations including the Imperial University Department of Cultural Anthropology, to showcase ancient Japan artifacts, receiving attention from the scholars in the field. It is reported that one haniwa statue, an archeologically valuable fully armed ancient piece that is considered the sole surviving haniwa of the kind in a perfect condition, which was scheduled to be on display, is no longer available for the exhibit. The news that the rare statue is to be sold away to a U.S. buyer triggered an emotional protest against the sale by members of the Ministry of Education and archeological scholars. The haniwa statue is currently on display at a department of the Imperial Household Museum. The clay armed male figure is owned by Senkichi Wada at Hayashi Cho in Koishigawa Ward and is valued at 20,000 yen as the sole complete statue of this kind in not only in Japan but in the world. The museum has seven haniwa statues, but the other pieces are compromised with a crack seen in an arm or the neck. The statue owned by Wada is flawless completed with a body armor and helmet. Wada, a senior archeological scholar, unearthed the 55-inch tall statue with precise details in 1909 at the ancient tomb site in Oaza Serata, Serata mura, Nitta ward in Gunma prefecture. Wearing a body armor with cord tied in two spots, hand protectors and a wrist protector, the ancient armed warrior carries an arrow sack with arrows in the back and rests a sword on his shoulder. It is estimated to be created 1,500 - 1,600 years ago in the reign of Emperor Nintoku.
Photograph: One of a kind armed haniwa statue, much discussed among archeological scholars, to be sold away to an U. S. buyer."

CONTRIBUTOR

Hawaii Times Photo Archives Foundation

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of the Hawaii Times Photo Archives Foundation

RIGHTS