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Yasukatsu Matsushima (former head of plaintiffs in the lawsuit demanding the return of Ryukyuan remains; former plaintiff in the lawsuit demanding disclosure of information; co-representative of the Nirai Kanai Nu Association; professor at Ryukoku University)

On May 21, 2025, the remains of at least 29 Ryukyuan people were returned to their hometown of Nakijin Village from Kyoto University for the first time in 96 years. However, the remains were placed in cardboard boxes and transferred to the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center storage facility in a manner that could hardly be described as respectful.

In the "Transfer Agreement" concluded by Kyoto University and the Nakijin Village Board of Education in December last year, it was decided that the transfer would be made on the condition that "reburial" (actually re-exposed) would not take place. Discussions between Kyoto University and Nakijin Village are said to have begun in early 2024. This is likely following the Osaka High Court ruling in September 2023. The intention of the researchers from the Japanese Anthropological Society to transfer the remains, which can no longer be studied at Kyoto University, to the storage facility of the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center and conduct research there seems to be clear. In July 2019, the Japanese Anthropological Society sent a "Request" to Kyoto University, requesting that the remains we are requesting to be returned be considered "cultural property shared by the nation" and not returned.

The "Transfer Agreement" concluded between Kyoto University and the Nakijin Village Board of Education is likely based on the "Agreement" concluded between National Taiwan University, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education, and the Nakijin Village Board of Education regarding the 63 Ryukyuan remains transferred from National Taiwan University to the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education in March 2019. The agreement specified that research would be conducted after the remains were transferred to Ryukyu. Naomi Doi conducted the research without the consent of the bereaved families. The Nirai Kanai Nu Association requested a resident audit and information disclosure request, and in September 2023, the Naha District Court ordered the disclosure of the names of the stolen grave sites. After the ruling, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education decided not to conduct research on the remains and to return them to their original locations. 21 remains were then transferred to Nakijin Village.

I heard the following from Tamaki Yasushi, director of the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center, about the Nakijin Village's understanding of the matter: "Currently, the Hyakuanji Grave is a village-designated historic site, but in the future we would like to make it a nationally designated historic site. To that end, we will store the transferred bones as academic materials and study them. We do not know who the person on the bones is, and the plaintiff in the lawsuit is not recognized as a religious successor, so informed consent is not necessary."

In March 2025, Naomi Dohi was awarded the Higaonna Kanjun Prize. The Nirai Kanai Nu Association is campaigning to have the award revoked for Dohi's research on Ryukyuan remains without obtaining informed consent. The issue of awarding the Higaonna Kanjun Prize to Dohi is strongly linked to the transfer of the remains from Kyoto University. As a result of the lawsuit for the return of the remains, it became virtually impossible to conduct research on the remains within Kyoto University, so the remains were transferred to Nakijin Village. By honoring Dohi's research on remains with the Higaonna Kanjun Prize, it can be seen as an attempt to create an environment in which Dohi and other researchers affiliated with the Japanese Anthropological Society can freely conduct research on remains within Nakijin Village without being restricted by research ethics.

In the lawsuit demanding the return of the remains of the Ryukyu people, Kyoto University was unable to provide evidence of its right to possess the remains, and it was revealed that the remains were exhumed and stored without informed consent. Such a university cannot prohibit "re-exhumation." Kyoto University has not offered any explanation or apology to the plaintiffs regarding the transfer of the remains. It excluded the plaintiffs from discussions regarding the transfer. Kyoto University does not see the Ryukyuan plaintiffs as fellow human beings. Kyoto University is using imperialist tactics to set us against the Nakijin Village Board of Education and divide Ryukyu, and it is clear that "imperialist intellectualism" continues to this day.

On the 17th of this month, the third dialogue will be held at the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper regarding the issue of awarding the Higaonna Kanjun Award to Doi, on the 19th a press conference will be held at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office regarding the Ryukyuan remains transferred from Kyoto University, and on the 22nd a memorial service will be held at the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center, where they will pray over the Ryukyuan remains and hold a dialogue with Director Tamaki regarding the "return of the remains to the grave."

It is certain that the remains of the Ryukyu people that were stolen and illegally stored by Kyoto University researchers are approaching their original graves. We ask for your continued understanding and support so that the remains can be returned to their graves as soon as possible and the bond between ancestors and descendants can be reestablished.

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, the court ruled in our favor and ordered the disclosure of the information we had requested, namely, the location of the remains that were exhumed. As a result, we decided not to appeal and the trial has now come to an end.

Following the ruling, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education decided to transfer all 63 remains in storage to their original municipalities. 21 of the remains were transferred to the Nakijin Village Board of Education, so the Nirai Kanai-nu Association, its legal team, and supporters went to the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center in December 2023 to discuss returning the remains to the Hyakuanji Tomb. At that time, they also had the opportunity to enter the storage facility at the center and pray directly to the remains.

We are also holding discussions with Nakijin Village officials regarding the return of the remains in March of this year, 2024. We feel that both the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education and the Nakijin Village Board of Education are being flexible regarding the return of the remains to their original graves.

Thank you very much for your support so far.

On May 31, 2023, Attorneys Shunji Miyake and Chiaki Miyake submitted the fifth brief.

Ms. Ryoko Nakamura, co-representative of Nirai Kanai Nukai, made the following statement.

8th Oral Argument Statement of Opinion

Ryoko Nakamura

Good morning. Worship door today.

Whew, Ryoko Nakamura. Yutasaru Gutu Unige Sabira.

Hello. My name is Ryoko Nakamura of the Ryukyu race.

As Ryukyuan people, we have respected our ancestors in the culture of ancestor worship, and have held memorial services and rituals.

Ryukyu has a rooted culture of interacting with ancestors and the other world through worship, such as Obon, Shimi, Juurokunichi, Ichinichi and Fifteenth. It is an important spiritual base that is deeply related to our identity.

Among them, the “remains of ancestors” are very important.

The remains of our ancestors are not "research materials". It is proof that they lived and is an object of worship. The fact that the remains are enshrined in the grave means that they are not just "dead", they are always there and watching over us. It is, so to speak, like a "house" in the other world, and its mabui (soul) "exists" through the ashes. It is a natural right of descendants to perform rituals at such graves.

That base is now being taken over by public institutions. By having the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education continue to preserve the remains of Ryukyuan people that were looted by Japanese researchers for research purposes before the war as "research materials." Furthermore, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education does not allow descendants to face the remains.

That's not all.

As is the issue in this lawsuit, the board of education did not respond to our requests for information disclosure as "citizens of the prefecture". Information about the remains of our ancestors is very important for us who live and live in this land.

Furthermore, premised on the claim of the prefecture, which is the defendant, among the 23 remains written in the transfer ledger this time, not only Hyakuanji Graves, but also those looted from Naha City and Nakagusuku Village. seems to be included. In other words, the graves of many Ryukyuan people, including ordinary people, have been vandalized and desecrated. The thought that the remains of my ancestors may have been stolen without my knowledge makes me uneasy.

The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education has a responsibility to clarify and explain information about the remains of ancestors. I have an obligation. In addition, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education conducts investigations into the remains, as well as administrative work such as the storage of the remains, which is operated by our tax money. As long as public money is being used, Okinawa Prefecture has an obligation to show how it is being used and the grounds for its use.

However, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education neglected its duty.

We live our own lives and cultures, and the right to know and the freedom to perform rituals are guaranteed.

A human being with feelings that should be done.

If the remains of the ancestors of the Ryukyus are displayed in an inorganic space under the pretense of "research", are touched by "others", and are exposed to curiosity as "academic materials", I will feel strong resentment. I feel regret and sorrow. That is why I would like to see information on which region the remains that were transferred from National Taiwan University came from.

This time, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education decided not to disclose information, which is not only a problem for the plaintiffs including me and the present, but also a big impact on future generations such as children and grandchildren. It's a problem. The board of education has an obligation to disclose information and explain the remains so that all Ryukyuan people can worship and interact with their ancestors in peace so that they do not have to worry about or have problems with them.

However, even though I am just asking for the disclosure of information that may contain the remains of our ancestors, the fact that citizens have to file a request for information disclosure and a lawsuit is itself a disservice to us. This is proof that your rights are being taken lightly.

Education boards do not exist for the benefit of some researchers or academic institutions. Isn't it our responsibility to protect and pass on the unique culture of the region and to contribute to the interests of the citizens?

Finally, in Canada, the United States, and European countries, the return of remains looted without permission from the bereaved family is guaranteed, free access to the information is guaranteed, and the consent of the parties involved in conducting research is obligatory.

The “Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights” adopted by UNESCO in 1997 also clearly requires informed consent for research .

In 2021 , a special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council submitted a report to the United Nations General Assembly, stating that "returning the looted Ryukyu remains is essential." They are demanding that the remains of the "Ryukyuans" be returned to their respective regions, which is exactly the problem in this lawsuit.

Disclosure of information is essential for everyone to discuss the return. In Hokkaido, information was first disclosed about the remains of the Ainu people, and then the remains were returned.

I hope that the prefecture will not fall far behind global trends and deepen the division between citizens and citizens as a result of authoritarianism in academics and administration. think.

As a first step, I would like the court to disclose information about the ancestors of the Ryukyuan people.

that's all

Flyer for the 6th Oral Argument on February 14

On August 18, an oral argument was held at the Naha District Court regarding a lawsuit seeking information disclosure against the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education. In the park in front of the court, Mr. Miyake reported on the trial and exchanged opinions. Participants expressed anger at the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education's stance and system for disclosing information on Ryukyuan remains that were even sloppy and embarrassing compared to Kyoto University's.

An article about this lawsuit was published in the Okinawa Times on August 19, 2022.