Burial Mounds

More than 200,000 ancient burial mounds are known to exist in Japan, and they are located all over the country. They were built for kings and powerful nobles. Along with the bodies of the dead, Japan's barrows contain many artifacts. By studying them, much can be learned about the ancient Japanese way of life. Surveys of burial mounds have employed many state-of-the-art technologies. There are constant advances in techniques to study artifacts without damaging them, and to restore excavated objects to their original condition. But archaeologists and historians are not the only people fascinated by barrows. Many members of the public visit burial mounds to appreciate their historical mystique. There is at least one "burial mound club," whose members enthusiastically visit sites around Japan. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is burial mounds. We will explore the mysteries of ancient Japan and how they continue to intrigue the Japanese.