The Mainichi Shimbun reports that Korea has agreed to return a Buddhist statue to Japan, but with conditions. It’s typical of Korea to claim a stolen statue from Japan as their own and then set conditions for its return. This behavior is shockingly improper.
This statue was stolen from Japan by Korean thieves in 2011. After Korean police seized it, a Korean temple claimed ownership, which Korea’s Supreme Court approved.
Records show the statue was in a Japanese temple since 1526. It likely came to Japan before the 15th century to escape religious persecution in Korea.