Portraits of rulers of the Ryukyu Kingdom unveiled for the first time

Portraits of rulers of the Ryukyu Kingdom that existed in Okinawa in southern Japan and other eighteen items have been shown to the media for the first time on Tuesday.

One, measuring about 180 centimeters square and the other portrait is split into three parts with one segment measuring 109 centimeters in length.The prefecture plans to establish a panel of experts this month to conduct a detailed analysis of pigments and other materials and to discuss how to proceed with the restoration of the paintings.

The portraits and other artifacts went missing in the chaos of the Battle of Okinawa in the final days of World War Two. Twenty-two items were found in the United States last year and handed over to Okinawa Prefecture in March.