Beautiful gesture by a Japanese citizen in recognition of Japanese colonization of Korea. Just shows how historical issues do not have to upset the bilateral relationship with just a bit of understanding and empathy.

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-06...

Tremendous news! Gwanwoldang, which I visited in 2023, has finally returned to Korea. Credit goes to Takao Sato, chief priest of Kotoku-in, who initiated the repatriation and personally covered the costs, believing that the shrine deserved to be preserved in its original home.

Cool story of an important historical artifact being returned to South Korea from Japan. This article doesn't mention it but the main force behind this move seems to have been the head priest of Kōtokuin (the Kamakura daibutsu temple), Satō Takao...

www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Cu...

This 15th century Joseon royal shrine was acquired by the President of Yamaichi Securities Co., Ltd., Sugino Kisei (1870-1939) and donated to the Kamakura temple in 1924. After its relocation from Sugino’s mansion in Tokyo’s Meguro Ward, Gwanwoldang was used as a prayer hall.

South Korea recently welcomed back Gwanwoldang, a Joseon-era royal shrine building, which had stood in Japan for the last century.

A lost Korean building, hidden behind a Japanese Buddha statue for nearly a century, has come home — piece by piece. Gwanwoldang, a traditional wooden structure once tucked inside a Japanese Buddhist temple, was unveiled on Thursday.

Regresan de Japón unas tejas del santuario Gwanwoldang, de la época Joseon.

Un total de 4.982 partes - 1.124 piezas de vigas, 3.457 "giwa" (tejas tradicionales) y 491 elementos de piedra -, todas en buen estado de conservación.

A royal shrine from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), believed to have been removed from Korea nearly a century ago during Japan’s colonial rule, has returned home. #Gwanwoldang #royalshrine #joseondynasty #buddhisttemple #KoreaJapan

buff.ly/nt2Q7jM

South Korea recently welcomed back Gwanwoldang, a Joseon-era royal shrine building, which had stood in Japan for the last century.

Carefully kept in good condition, with even dancheong colors preserved, 4,982 parts of Gwanwoldang reflect its noble status, aesthetics

www.koreaherald.com/article/1053...

This week, a 14th-c. statue of Gwan-eum was returned to Japan, not Korea—a rare reverse repatriation after a decade-long dispute. Meanwhile, a looted Korean moon-viewing hall still stands unnoticed behind Kamakura’s Great Buddha. I wrote about it.

Wat doet een Koreaans paleisgebouw achter de Grote Boeddha van Kamakura?

In mijn nieuwste artikel duik ik in de geschiedenis van de Gwanwoldang, en bekijk ik dit vanuit het perspectief van koloniaal verleden en roofkunst.

thomvandam.com/f/roofkunst-...