Gaby
Graffiti — often presented as harmless street art — isn’t restricted to a few places; it’s everywhere. This isn’t just vandalism; it’s a sign of changing attitudes. As societies modernize, attacks on cultural and historical sites are rising.
A recent example: the royal mausoleum in the city of Urasoe on Okinawa Island was defaced.
Okinawa Prefecture officials say vandals spray-painted the 13th-century mausoleum of Ryukyu Kingdom rulers, known as Urasoe Yodore. The tomb’s walls and arched gate are marked with letters and black spray-painted patterns.
What is known about the mausoleum
The structure is located in a rocky cave, northeast of the ruins of Urasoe Castle. The mausoleum contains the remains of three rulers from the 13th and 14th centuries, plus another Ryukyu monarch buried here several centuries later.
Construction of the mausoleum began in 1261 during King Eiso’s reign, before Okinawa split into three kingdoms. At that time, power on the island rested with local chieftains—kings—under a chief ruler.
The burial complex, including a stone gate, was completed in 1271, according to Arkeonews. The site also included two gardens.
Visitors can see shrines with bodhisattva statues and sculptures of a turtle and a crane, reflecting Buddhism’s influence on the rulers of that era.
The site was heavily damaged during the Battle of Okinawa but was restored by the government in 1955 with architect Nakadzu Hisao involved.
The cave mausoleum is a designated cultural heritage site and is considered a prototype for traditional Okinawan tombs. A surveillance camera captured several people spray-painting the walls and arched gate on the morning of October 3, and the Okinawa Prefectural Police have opened an investigation under the Cultural Properties Preservation Act.
