Japan`s Shame, Fake Bronze Spearhead

7 bronze spearheads known as the remains from the Yayoi era (3 C B.C.E. – 3 C C.E.), which is allegedly the period that the metal weapons were produced for common uses, are revealed as in fact the remains of the late feudal period or early Meiji period by Prof. Yoshida Hiroshi (Lecturer of Archaeology at Ehime University).

The fraud spearheads have been exhibited in Meiji University, Matsumoto City Museum, 2 Shinto shines in Ehime, and Oriental Museum of Fine Art in Italy. It is very unusual that the relics in the Japanese museums and noticeable foreign fine art museums are revealed as counterfeits.

According to the research, the spearheads have totally different ingredients, for example, zinc produced in Japan, which is not found in the products from the Yayoi era. Furthermore, the remains are not excavated articles but a collection from unknown origins. Prof. Yoshida estimated that the spearheads are probably only 150 years old.

Japanese presses analyzed that the reason for the manufacturing of such counterfeits was to increase the number of relics in Shinto shrines in the midst of the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism in early Meiji era. Or it could be made to sell to the foreign collectors in that period.

The fraud and forgery of historical remains have continued in Japan including the early Paleolithic relics counterfeited over 40 places by Hujimura Shinichi, vice chairperson of East-North Culture Institute, last year.

Young-Ee Lee yes202@donga.com