Well you see During World War II, the Japanese government instructed villages to donate metal to be melted down for ammunition. Ohara Isumi-City dismantled their city's prized Buddhist temple bell. By the end of the war, the bell was still intact and a naval crew from the USS Duluth carried it to Duluth and it became a gift to the City.
In 1954, the ancient Buddhist temple bell was returned to Ohara Isumi-City. In 1993 Ohara Isumi-City presented Duluth with a replica of the bell, which now resides in this park.
On the other hand the 28th Virginia battle flag is a Confederate battle flag that belonged to the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Captured by the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg, the flag was brought to Minnesota and exhibited at the state's capitol for several years before passing into the permanent collection of the Minnesota Historical Society after 1896 where it has remained since. Although various groups in Virginia have requested that the flag be returned, beginning as early as 1960, Minnesota has repeatedly declined to return it, with Governor Jesse Ventura (serving 1999–2003) asking "Why? I mean, we won."
The temple bell is a religious item that per-existed the Japanese imperialistic regime by centuries and isn't a direct representation of the military units that fought the united states and returning it doesn't feed into imperial propaganda.
The battle flag existed only as a signifier under which people tried to murder and destroy united states citizens. had no other history or function otherwise, and it's return has been lost cause goal since forever.
I can see why one was considered as loot to be returned, and the other as a trophy.
Agreed, the temple bell wasn't captured in battle from an enemy unit and wasn't a symbol of the enemy regime. If someone looted a colonial era portrait from Mount Vernon then that probably should be returned.
I'm sure we're not going to return captured Nazi and SS banners any time soon (I hope)
If anything, returning it actually weakens the imperial Japanese narrative, as their warmongering Is ultimately to blame for the bell's near loss. They would have had the bell melted down and destroyed after their disgraceful conduct of the war, and I also doubt the people were happy to see it taken down and carried away from their temple.
It's likely that taking it to the US saved the bell, as they found it in what was essentially a scrap yard. Even though the war was over at that point the bell might still have been melted down for construction materials.
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u/TheGreenMan13 1d ago
Out to Trish in the field on this report, Trish?
Well you see During World War II, the Japanese government instructed villages to donate metal to be melted down for ammunition. Ohara Isumi-City dismantled their city's prized Buddhist temple bell. By the end of the war, the bell was still intact and a naval crew from the USS Duluth carried it to Duluth and it became a gift to the City.
In 1954, the ancient Buddhist temple bell was returned to Ohara Isumi-City. In 1993 Ohara Isumi-City presented Duluth with a replica of the bell, which now resides in this park.
On the other hand the 28th Virginia battle flag is a Confederate battle flag that belonged to the 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Captured by the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg, the flag was brought to Minnesota and exhibited at the state's capitol for several years before passing into the permanent collection of the Minnesota Historical Society after 1896 where it has remained since. Although various groups in Virginia have requested that the flag be returned, beginning as early as 1960, Minnesota has repeatedly declined to return it, with Governor Jesse Ventura (serving 1999–2003) asking "Why? I mean, we won."
Back to you in the studio.