¥10 million golden tea bowl stolen from Tokyo department store
 

A pure golden tea bowl displayed for sale in the event hall of a Tokyo department store — valued at over ¥10 million — was stolen Thursday, the store reported to police.

An official of the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district reported the theft at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, and the police are searching for a man who fled the site.

The 24-carat gold matcha tea bowl was on sale for ¥10.4 million as part of the Grand Gold Exhibition, featuring over 1,000 meticulously crafted pieces, including koban coins widely used in the Edo Period (1603-1868) and other gold artifacts, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

The tea bowl was displayed in an acrylic hexagonal cover on a display shelf, without any security measures like locks or alarms in place, the department store said.

A store clerk noticed at around noon that the bowl was missing, and surveillance camera footage revealed a man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s, sneaking the bowl into a backpack at around 11:40 a.m. The man was wearing glasses, a gray sweatshirt and long blackish pants.

The exhibition, scheduled to run from Wednesday to next Monday, had security officers working around-the-clock, the event’s organizer said.

The bowl was created by Koichi Ishikawa, a renowned goldsmith. A third-generation craftsman from the esteemed Ishikawa Studio, Ishikawa holds a prestigious reputation for producing exquisite works, including gifts for the emperor and ceremonial cups for sumo wrestlers. His accolades include the esteemed Tokyo Governor's Award, which he received in 1988.

Additional items of significant value, including a traditional Japanese screen valued at over ¥100 million and a 2.1-meter-high golden dragon figure adorned with approximately 3,000 gold leaf pieces valued at around ¥38 million, were showcased alongside the stolen bowl.

Following the incident, more stringent measures were implemented, including the placement of partitions to ensure a safe distance between visitors and the remaining merchandise.

source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/12/japan/crime-legal/takashimaya-golden-tea-bowl-stolen/

Comprehension

What was stolen from the Tokyo department store?
Where was the stolen item displayed?
What is the value of the stolen tea bowl?
What was the age of the man who stole the tea bowl?
What was the stolen tea bowl made of?
Who created the stolen tea bowl?
What other valuable items were on display near the stolen bowl?
What measures were taken to prevent thefts?

Discussion

Have you ever visited a department store in Japan? If yes, describe your experience.
What do you think about the security measures in the department store?
Do you think the value of the stolen tea bowl is reasonable? Why or why not?
Have you ever heard of the artist Koichi Ishikawa?
What do you think about the reputation of Koichi Ishikawa?
What measures do you think should be taken to prevent thefts in department stores?
Have you ever seen or heard of any valuable items being stolen?
Do you think the stolen items should be insured? Why or why not?
How would you feel if you were the owner of the stolen items?
What can be done to recover the stolen items?

Vocabulary

Pure - free from any contamination or adulteration
Golden - made of or covered with gold
Valued - having a particular worth or importance
Meticulously - done with great attention to detail
Acrylic - a synthetic resin used for making lightweight, transparent objects
Hexagonal - having six sides of equal length
Adorned - decorated with something valuable or attractive
Reputation - the opinion that people have about someone or something