Nakijin Village to receive Ryukyuan remains from Taiwan University
Mumujana grave in Nakijin Village where many remains were excavated by anthropologists. November 2016.
November 1, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo
Taiwan University will return the remains of Ryukyuan people that were found in Mumujana grave in Nakijin Village by anthropologists from the former Imperial Universities in the early Showa era and are being kept at the university.
The Nakijin Village Board of Education and the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education announced on October 31 that they have started working on the process for returning the remains.
They have not yet decided on the timing of the return.
Taiwan University indicated its intention to return 63 Ryukyuan people’s remains currently stored at the university.
As Nakijin Village and the Prefecture have expressed their wish to accept the offer, the exchange will take place.
The Nakijin Village Board of Education consulted with Taiwan University and began considering the offer in early October.
The Village Board of Education and the Prefectural Board of Education are planning to inform Taiwan University in writing of their intention to accept the remains.
After they are returned, the remains will be kept in facilities in the prefectural office building.
A village board of education official said, “We will consult with the prefecture about the safekeeping of the remains.
We do not know when they will be returned.
We are in the process of confirming details.
” The Prefectural Board of Education Cultural Property Division said, “We are looking for places where remains can be stored securely with proper temperature and humidity management.
We will respect the village’s wishes and respond.”
Civic groups and researchers who have been calling for the return of the remains are demanding proper reburial.
They say the remains should not be treated merely as material for research.
The Nakijin Village Board of Education is also planning to contact Kyoto University, which also stores Ryukyuan remains.
Kyoto University has not yet revealed whether it will return the remains or not.
(English translation by T&CT and Megumi Chibana)
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