Overview

• The 14th-century gilt bronze Bodhisatva statue, stolen from Kannonji Temple in 2012, was officially returned to Japan on May 12, 2025.
• The statue had been at the center of a legal battle after a South Korean temple claimed ownership, but South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that it belonged to the Japanese temple.
• Following the ruling, the statue was loaned for a 100-day farewell exhibit in South Korea before its final return to Japan.
• Local residents and temple members celebrated its arrival at Kannonji Temple, where a ceremony was held before plans to house it in a regional museum with enhanced security.
• The statue’s return underscores the complex cultural and historical ties between Japan and South Korea, shaped by both colonial-era grievances and efforts at cultural diplomacy.