Mitsuo Kagawa
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese archaeologist and a professor at Beppu University
in Ōita Prefecture
, Japan
. He committed suicide
by hanging
himself on March 9, 2001.
period. In 1962 he led an excavation in Hijiridaki cave site (聖嶽洞窟遺跡) in Ōita Prefecture. The team claimed that they discovered ancient human bones and stone tools
dating back to the Paleolithic
era, but later in 1999 other researchers questioned and argued that the claim could not be proven.
In a series of articles by the Japanese magazine Bungeishunjū
published on January 25, February 1 and March 15, 2001, it alleged that the stone tools discovered at the site were fabrication and indicated Kagawa had involved in that hoax. He committed suicide and left a suicide note
to claim his innocence.
His family filed a defamation suit against Shukan Bunshun the same year. The Ōita district Court and the Fukuoka High Court decided to order the magazine to pay the damages and issue an apology to the family of Kagawa. The magazine appealed to the Supreme Court
although the appeal was rejected in September 2004. An apology statement was published on September 2, 2004 issue.
On October 25, 2003, a project team from the Japanese Archaeological Association stated that they could not find any evidence to make judgments whether there is a fabrication or not.
Beppu University
is a private university in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It has campuses at the cities of Beppu and Ōita.The predecessor of the school was founded in 1908, and it was chartered as a university in 1954.-External links:*...
in Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
himself on March 9, 2001.
Life
Kagawa majored in archeology especially in the Japanese PaleolithicJapanese Paleolithic
The began around 50,000 to 30,000 BC, when the earliest stone tool implements have been found, and continued to around 14,000 BC, at the end of the last ice age, which corresponds to the beginning of the Mesolithic Jōmon period...
period. In 1962 he led an excavation in Hijiridaki cave site (聖嶽洞窟遺跡) in Ōita Prefecture. The team claimed that they discovered ancient human bones and stone tools
Stone tool
A stone tool is, in the most general sense, any tool made either partially or entirely out of stone. Although stone tool-dependent societies and cultures still exist today, most stone tools are associated with prehistoric, particularly Stone Age cultures that have become extinct...
dating back to the Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
era, but later in 1999 other researchers questioned and argued that the claim could not be proven.
In a series of articles by the Japanese magazine Bungeishunjū
Bungeishunju
, established in 1923, is a Japanese publishing company known for its leading monthly magazine Bungeishunjū. It also grants the annual Akutagawa Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Japan, as well as the annual Naoki Prize for popular novelists. It also grants the annual...
published on January 25, February 1 and March 15, 2001, it alleged that the stone tools discovered at the site were fabrication and indicated Kagawa had involved in that hoax. He committed suicide and left a suicide note
Suicide note
A suicide note or death note is a message that states the author has died by suicide, and left to be discovered and read in anticipation of suicide....
to claim his innocence.
His family filed a defamation suit against Shukan Bunshun the same year. The Ōita district Court and the Fukuoka High Court decided to order the magazine to pay the damages and issue an apology to the family of Kagawa. The magazine appealed to the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
although the appeal was rejected in September 2004. An apology statement was published on September 2, 2004 issue.
On October 25, 2003, a project team from the Japanese Archaeological Association stated that they could not find any evidence to make judgments whether there is a fabrication or not.
External links
- 別府大学・別府大学短期大学部ホームページ, Beppu University