Mystery pirate treasure

[KANACKI]

Hola Amigos

What can I say?

The following legend or story is just a unsolvable mystery. I have no idea that these events actually happened or was just hoax story created in the early 1950's? Or had some basis in some truth regardless of the baseless claims of a treasure being found on a cave off Japan with gold and silver, being connected to Captain Kidd.

Straight away that aspect of the story rang alarm bells that story was perhaps just a silly invention of a reporter looking for gap filler in the newspaper?

The following newspaper article Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 23 June 1952, page 3

Capt. Kidd's Treasure

"In A Cave"

TOKYO, June 22 (A.A.P.-Reuter). - The Tokyo newspaper "Mainichi" said to-day that

Japanese treasure-hunters had found the treasure of the British pirate, Captain William Kidd.The newspaper said the treasure was hidden in a cave on tiny uninhabited Yokoate Island near Amanio Shima ; northernmost island of the Ryukyu group

In the cave were many "steel chests." On opening one of them the Japanese found silver bars and old coins. "Mainichi" said that Masahiro Nagishima, who financed the expedition had said he would give all the treasure to the Japanese Government

The treasure was worth ?stg100 million In London treasure-hunter George Shepherd said he is organising a small expedition to search for the treasure. He thought it improbable the Yokoate treasure was Captain Kidd's.

"There is no record of Captain Kidd ever having been in Japanese waters,"Shepherd said. "I think he buried his treasure near Singapore?

Was there more to this yarn?

Kanacki

 

[KANACKI]

Hola Amigos

Japan has a long history of isolating itself from the rest of the world. Most notably: Between the 17th and 19th century, when the country adopted a policy to confine itself from the rest of the world. Set up by the Tokugawa Shonugate, the government enforced strict guidelines — going insofar as of imposing death penalty to those who had contact with the outside world.

In Japanese Sakoku means “chained country.” It was an order that spanned for almost two millennia. Only a few foreign nationals were given permission to trade or visit the country, and the policy was strictly enforced. They worked to expel the various religious and colonial influences of Portugal and Spain that threatened the shonugate power.

The Tokugawa shonugate was the last feudal military government in Japan. Their rule is known as the Edo period, where Japan experienced political stability, internal peace, and economic growth brought by the strict Sakoku guidelines.

Tokugawa Iemitsu is known as the authority behind the Sakoku mandate. He ruled from 1623 until 1651, and strictly enforced the edicts and guidelines behind the isolation policy. It was during his rule that Japan crucified Christians, expelled Europeans from the country, and closed the borders of the country to the outside world.

During the Tokugawa shogunate, trade was limited to four gateways. The Matsumae Domain was allowed to trade with the Ainu people, the indigenous people of Japan and Russian islands of Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, and Kamchatka Peninsula.

Tsushima Island’s clan was allowed to trade with the Joseon Dysnasty in Korea. The Dutch East India Company was given permission to trade with Chinese merchants, and the independent Japanese kingdom of Ryukyu was also granted permission to trade with mainland Japan.

The ruling was only overturned when the shogunate under Tokugawa Iemochi underwent internal turmoil that forced him to establish relations with the United States. Sakoku officially ended on March 31, 1854, when he signed the Treaty of Peace and Amity with Commodore Matthew Perry from the United States.

The Island where this alleged discovery the tiny uninhabited Yokoate Island near Amanio Shima ; northernmost island of the Ryukyu group independent Japanese kingdom of Ryukyu. So it is not beyond the realms of possibility the Ryukyu islanders engaged in trade with Chinese and the Dutch east India company that at one time had settlements in Formosa which is called twain today, Taiwan?

Spanish Silver was being sent from south America and Mexico to Philippines in the Manila Trade where Chinese merchants would trade goods and services for silver. That became a highly prized commodity.

Tokugawa Shogunate in japan mandated all high value transactions be in silver.

In 1765, the Tokugawa Shogunate government issued silver coins with fixed weight (Meiwa Gomonme-gin <5 monme-gin> silver coins) to be exchanged at an official exchange rate of 1-ryo of gold for 60 monme of silver, and subsequently in 1772, issued Meiwa Nanryo Nishu-gin silver coins with denominations based on gold coin units. The government promoted the use of the coins by proactively making loans to moneychangers (ryogaesho), and in the first half of the 19th century, silver coins with denominations were circulated all over the country.

The Gomonme-gin silver coin carried the fixed denomination of “5 monme,” and moneychangers, who had been earning profits from fluctuations of exchange rates in the market, strongly objected to use these coins. On the obverse of the Meiwa Nanryo Nishu-gin silver coin, it was indicated that eight Nanryo Nishugin silver coins could be exchanged for one 1-ryo Koban gold coin. In line with the government’s policy, the coins began to be circulated widely as supplementary currencies of Koban gold coins, since it was more convenient to use silver coins with denominations rather than those traded by weight. In 1768,

So Tokugawa Shogunate in japan trade with the Japanese kingdom of Ryukyu was a source of obtain better quality silver via the Manila galleon trade rather than relying on the quality of silver in japan from mining.

In the course of trade with the Japanese Ryukyu kingdom with Japanese Shogunate ( Japan) the island of Yokoate is halfway between both kingdoms.



But what happened? Why was it left in a cave on the island?

Kanacki

 

[KANACKI]

Hola Amigos

Trade between the two Japaneses kingdoms went on for at least 2 and half centuries. However the Manila galleon trade ended in 1815 and source of Spanish Mexican silver dried up. Tokugawa Shogunate reports in 1837 there was volcanic eruption of island of Yokoate which lasted several years.

From eruptions and earth quakes the from of the cave roof of the lava tube collapsed sealing the chests of silver in side the cave.

Ryukyu kingdom eventually by 1874 was annexed by Japan. A history moved on and the cave that was lost forgotten?

Here is the island below.....







Kanacki

 

[freeman]

It's not a yarn. It actually happened but got a bit mixed up in the telling due to having to cover it up at that time. Later reports tell the full story.

Yes, there was a number of steel chests containing gold etc found in a coastal cave. From memory it was some local fisherman who stumbled across them.

After the authorities got involved (remember this was occupied Japan) a few people had some explaining to do.

What really happened is that prior to WW2 ending and Japan being occupied a bank didn't like the idea of the Americans getting their hands on all the loot. So they emptied their vaults, stashed it all in the cave and played dumb when MacArthur turned up looking for the gold.

 

[Crow]

Gidday Amigos

Probably close to the mark. It appears others thought along the same likes at the time.

Crow

 

[Red-Coat]

You might be interested in this well-researched take on how the Japanese islands of that region might have become historically associated with Captain Kidd in a folklore sense, despite there being absolutely no evidence that he ever sailed into those waters. It’s a downloadable article from the Journal of Marine and Island Culture (2014) 3, 20-30 titled:

“Takarajima: A Treasured Island - Exogeneity, folkloric identity and local branding” by Philip Hayward and Sueo Kuwahara. The Kidd-related portion starts at the bottom of page 24 (the 5th page of the pdf actual):

https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/...egion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20210801194758

 

[freeman]

I found I had some articles still about this but not the one that identifies the bank. Don't quote me but I think it was the Bank of Japan that did it.

A local fisherman accidentally stumbled across it and he began to tell others.

As word got out it spiraled out of control so the bank had to 'fess up.

 

[KANACKI]

Hola Amigos

All very good points amigos. Quite possible.

I cannot find any trace of this story in Japan. It seem a story that came and went. I cannot confirm the events or even trace the key person in the story. None of this alleged treasure turned up anywhere.As elusive as person making the alleged discovery.

I did find a picture of the possible cave in a Japanese website on the Yokoate Jima island. However even has to be tentatively because on Language translation difficulties.



Kanacki

 

[KANACKI]

You might be interested in this well-researched take on how the Japanese islands of that region might have become historically associated with Captain Kidd in a folklore sense, despite there being absolutely no evidence that he ever sailed into those waters. It’s a downloadable article from the Journal of Marine and Island Culture (2014) 3, 20-30 titled:

“Takarajima: A Treasured Island - Exogeneity, folkloric identity and local branding” by Philip Hayward and Sueo Kuwahara. The Kidd-related portion starts at the bottom of page 24 (the 5th page of the pdf actual):

https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/...egion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20210801194758

Hola amigo

It an interesting article in modern terms you could say cultural misappropriation. In Australia there is a legend of a Japanese pirate but virtually unknown in Japan. Yet some how Captain Kidd had some how become infused with treasure island story that was translated into Japanese. The above article refers to kidds alleged connection to the folklore of Takarajima:

Yet strangely absent in this article is no mention of is this alleged 1952 treasure discovery on island of Yokoate

Kanacki

 

[THE TRUE SEEKER]

I cannot find any trace of this story in Japan. It seem a story that came and went. I cannot confirm the events or even trace the key person in the story. None of this alleged treasure turned up anywhere.As elusive as person making the alleged discovery.

The treasure was real, but it didn't seem to be what Kidd hid.

However, what captivates people even more about Captain Kidd is the fact that he was hanged without ever revealing the whereabouts of his enormous treasure. And the fate of Kidd’s treasure remains a mystery to this day.

But then, on Sunday, June 22, 1952, Japanese readers who opened their national newspapers early in the morning were stunned by a certain article. The headline declared that the treasure of the pirate Kidd had been discovered. The location? Incredibly, it was in Japan—on a small island in the Amami Islands called Yokoate Island.

The article included a detailed map of the island and even marked the spot where the treasure was said to have been found. According to the report, there was a secret cave on Yokoate Island, and a cross had been placed there as a sign indicating the location of the treasure.

There had long been a local legend in the area surrounding the island. Around 120 to 130 years ago, an Englishman came to the island and asked the villagers for help, saying he wanted to lay his comrade’s body to rest. The villagers did as they were asked, carrying many heavy iron chests into a cave and placing a cross above it as a marker. However, rumors persisted that the chests didn’t contain a body, but treasure instead—and this eventually led to the formation of an expedition team.

After much effort, the expedition team finally discovered a cave accessible from the island’s northern coast. As they ventured deeper inside, they came upon a massive cavern of about 3,300 square meters (roughly 1,000 tsubo). There, they found countless iron chests. Upon opening them, the explorers were speechless—inside were gleaming treasures, including gold bars, piles of silver, and precious gems.

Since this was reported in one of Japan’s three major national newspapers, the credibility of the article was considered to be quite high.

The treasure was estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of yen, possibly up to 100 billion yen at the time. Adjusted for inflation, that would be several trillion yen by 2022 standards. There is no proof that this was actually Captain Kidd’s secret treasure, but the real mystery is what happened to it afterward.

Using the newspaper article as a lead, we attempted to investigate further—but unfortunately, the journalist who wrote the piece had long since passed away. The article also included the Tokyo address of Mr. Y, who had been the 50-year-old leader of the expedition team (his photo was even printed in the paper), but the address had since changed. When we finally tracked it down, someone else was living there. Mr. Y’s whereabouts remain completely unknown. So where did Kidd’s treasure, possibly worth trillions of yen, disappear to?

Still, giving up here would be a failure of our responsibility to pursue knowledge and inspire curiosity. So I calmly re-examined the article once again. It was written in 1952. The Englishman was said to have hidden the treasure about 120–130 years prior—meaning around the 1830s. This was before the Opium Wars in China. Around this time, some astute Englishmen, sensing the unrest to come, began transferring their wealth overseas. This suggests that the treasure may not have belonged to the pirate Kidd after all—but rather, could have been vast wealth amassed through the opium trade. That theory would make more sense.

However, the fate of the discovered treasure remains a complete mystery. 1

 

[THE TRUE SEEKER]

There are two newspaper articles from 1952 regarding the treasure of Yokoate Island.

The first one reports the discovery of treasure on Yokoate Island (probably). The second one features testimonies from locals stating that the treasure discovered on Yokoate Island is not the one hidden by Kidd (also probably).

Is there anyone who can access these materials?

"I have discovered a treasure island" Yokoate Island, Nansei Islands (“われ宝島を発見せり”横当島・南西諸島)

The treasure of Yokoate Island is the property of our ancestors. (横当島の財宝 私達の祖先の物)

 

[freeman]

There are two newspaper articles from 1952 regarding the treasure of Yokoate Island.

The first one reports the discovery of treasure on Yokoate Island (probably). The second one features testimonies from locals stating that the treasure discovered on Yokoate Island is not the one hidden by Kidd (also probably).

Is there anyone who can access these materials?

"I have discovered a treasure island" Yokoate Island, Nansei Islands (“われ宝島を発見せり”横当島・南西諸島)

The treasure of Yokoate Island is the property of our ancestors. (横当島の財宝 私達の祖先の物)

It's not a mystery: see details above about it being an end of war stash by the Bank of Japan .

There are current searches still for 'Kidd's treasure' going on there though as a few Japanese treasure hunting societies and 'experts' are convinced Kidd hid a treasure and drew a map for it.

I didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for them when I saw their research material: they were following one of the maps Harold T Wilkins drew for his Captain Kidd book. It's still being shown and written up as real there.

I'd have to look it up (it's in Japanese) so don't quote me but it all started when just before WW2 someone posted a copy of Wilkin's map to some government department in Tokyo. Not knowing about where it actually came from it's been accepted there as legit ever since.

Not sure but I suspect someone just did it to play a joke on the Japanese back then.

 

[THE TRUE SEEKER]

It's not a mystery: see details above about it being an end of war stash by the Bank of Japan .

I don't quite understand the story about the Bank of Japan. However, after the first report, local residents living around Yokoate Island told a newspaper reporter (likely from the Mainichi Shimbun) that the treasure was hidden by the ancestors of the local people.

There are current searches still for 'Kidd's treasure' going on there though as a few Japanese treasure hunting societies and 'experts' are convinced Kidd hid a treasure and drew a map for it.

I didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for them when I saw their research material: they were following one of the maps Harold T Wilkins drew for his Captain Kidd book. It's still being shown and written up as real there.

I'll write about the Wilkins map in another thread.(https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/the-treasure-of-captain-william-kidd.704081/page-39)

 

[freeman]

I don't quite understand the story about the Bank of Japan. However, after the first report, local residents living around Yokoate Island told a newspaper reporter (likely from the Mainichi Shimbun) that the treasure was hidden by the ancestors of the local people.


I'll write about the Wilkins map in another thread.(https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/the-treasure-of-captain-william-kidd.704081/page-39)

When it became obvious Japan had lost WW2 and was going to be occupied the Bank of Japan decided to hide its gold and silver holdings as they didn't want it being seized by the Americans. So it was hidden in that cave.

The trouble was when the Occupying Powers did take over in 1945, the Bank of Japan officials had to lie and pretend there was no gold and silver holdings left in the bank. The longer it went on, the worse the cover up got for those conducting the conspiracy to hide the loot from the Occupying Powers.

When the hiding site was accidentally stumbled across in 1952, the Bank (really its officials) had to then confess what they had done to enable the Bank to claim it .

 

[Crow]

Personally I am not sure of origin of this alleged treasure. I suspect it was nothing to do with Captain Kidd. As Kidd charts are conclusively proven to 20th century fakes.

The captain Kidd story might of been smoke and mirrors to deflect the true origins of this alleged treasure.Or even just a joke? I suspect it would be risky for back of japan to move treasure to the island at the stages in war.

The story of locals claiming the treasure dated from about 170 years ago. Yet During the 1830s-60s various parts of the Japanese islands suffered from an unusually high frequency of natural disasters and other problems such as epidemic disease outbreaks, famine, social unrest in the form of riots, peasant uprisings, and mass spontaneous religious pilgrimages, a massive earthquake, and a high rate of inflation. Yet Edo period overall was rather benign.

Japan only opened up to the outside world in 1853, when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry used a show of naval force to persuade the Japanese government to open its ports to American ships. This event ended Japan's 220-year period of self-imposed isolation and led to a series of treaties with Western powers, which eventually resulted in a rapid modernization of Japan during the Meiji era.

If the newspaper story was not an invention. then perhaps the treasure was illicit funds accumulated by the British opium trade to China?
Hong Kong became a British colony through two wars: the First and Second Opium Wars. The First Opium War broke out in 1839. It is called the 'Opium War' because of one of its major causes: the British were smuggling opium from their Indian colonies into Chinese ports against the wishes of the Chinese government. In essence the British was drug smugglers.

Today the role has changed we have illicit precursors manufactured in industrial scale in mainland china for various drugs flooding western nations to day.

This island had never been populated and ideal temporary bank for a sea captain or merchant doing deals. Maybe those involved was lost sea? This is speculation of course.

We just do not know enough to really know anything other than speculation. Since not a trace of alleged treasure has turned up is there any proof that it existed to begin with other than fake news?

Crow

 

[THE TRUE SEEKER]

The book titled Newspaper collection Showa chronological history 1952 edition 3 contains newspaper articles from 1952.This book is a compilation of newspaper articles published in 1952. Pages 718 and 768 of this book include contemporary newspaper articles reporting the discovery of treasure on Yokoate Island.

We just do not know enough to really know anything other than speculation. Since not a trace of alleged treasure has turned up is there any proof that it existed to begin with other than fake news?

Even if the treasure actually existed, it's highly likely that it has been sold off somewhere by now. As I quoted earlier, the reporter who wrote the article has already passed away, and the whereabouts of the expedition leader remain unknown.

However, among the local islanders who were interviewed by the reporter after the treasure was discovered, there might be people who still remember the time when the treasure was discovered. Or, there might be people who have heard stories from those who knew about the events at that time.

The problem is that I don't know the name of the island where those islanders live. The newspaper articles from that era should mention the island's name.

 

[Crow]

The book titled Newspaper collection Showa chronological history 1952 edition 3 contains newspaper articles from 1952.This book is a compilation of newspaper articles published in 1952. Pages 718 and 768 of this book include contemporary newspaper articles reporting the discovery of treasure on Yokoate Island.


Even if the treasure actually existed, it's highly likely that it has been sold off somewhere by now. As I quoted earlier, the reporter who wrote the article has already passed away, and the whereabouts of the expedition leader remain unknown.

However, among the local islanders who were interviewed by the reporter after the treasure was discovered, there might be people who still remember the time when the treasure was discovered. Or, there might be people who have heard stories from those who knew about the events at that time.

The problem is that I don't know the name of the island where those islanders live. The newspaper articles from that era should mention the island's name.

The problem is you looking for eyewitness accounts dating back 73 years ago. Most of people who knew about is most likely long dead.

And even if there was some one in their 90s their memory of it would of faded with exact details. Here is the catch even if some one now in their 90s remember it will be only fading memories on the exact details.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Wednesday 2 April 1952, page 2 give the following story give a different take that they had not actually found treasure but believe there was treasure?

Treasure Hunt on Jap island

AAP - Reuter

TOKYO.— A group of optimistic Japanese in-tend to search for trea-sure they believe was buried more than 120 years ago by a foreign pirate on an island south of Japan. The Island is in the Amami - Oshima group, which, during the war, was one of Japan's homeland defence strongpoints. The treasure hunters say their belief is based on tales of a pirate burying casks of "dead bodies," They think the casks really contained pirates' booty.

Crow

 

[Cryptid1990]

This story was most probably a hoax. No confirmation any treasure was found and The Spokesman-Review (23 June 1952) pointed out "the account generally was taken tongue in cheek". Does anyone have a digitised scan of the article first published in the Tokyo newspaper Mainichi Shimbun?

Some more sources:

The Morning Bulletin (24 June 1952)

Pirate Treasure Search - The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1965) - 24 Jun 1952

LONDON, June 22.—Treasure hunter George Shepherd was undeterred today at the news from Tokyo of the reported ...

trove.nla.gov.au

- Marlborough Express (23 June 1952)

- The Argus (23 June 1952)

- The Sydney Morning Herald (23 June 1952)