Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
The National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institute assisted the FBI in ensuring that the artifacts were properly packaged for transport back to Japan.
“The FBI reached out, asked us for some help making sure they knew how to care for the works and that they had a safe place to store them while they worked out the repatriation details,” said Danielle Bennett, head of collections management at the National Museum of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institute. “It’s an honor to be able to help the works go back to their home.”
The FBI also thanks the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) 38 G Monuments Men and Women, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Air Force for their assistance in securing and transporting the artifacts to Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
On March 15, Denny Tamaki, the governor of Okinawa Prefecture, announced the return of the artifacts to the people of Okinawa, Japan in a news conference, stating “it is very meaningful that the FBI, along with others in the U.S. Government, have cooperated to realize this return.”
Watch this extended interview featuring FBI Boston Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly to learn more.
You can view and download photos of the recovered artifacts here.