National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

The Kaniana (Ganiana) Tomb is located on the island of Toshijima at the mouth of Ise Bay and built at the foot of a thin tongue-shaped plateau. Since the periphery of the tumulus has been eroded into a sharp cliff, its shape and size are unknown. However, it should not be so big. The burial room is of a horizontal stone chamber type and one earthenware goblet and two earthenware jars with bases have been excavated from a place near a stone string. Lids to Sueki (blue-gray form of high-fired pottery) goblets, pieces of goblets, iron nails, earrings and gilt bronze utensils for openwork were also excavated by a recent reinvestigation. The form of the horizontal stone chamber and excavated Sueki suggest that these were created in the late Tumulus period (Asuka period), that is, in the mid-7th century. This is a large long neck bottle with a low base. There are three layers of two incised lines on the neck and a pierced pattern on the middle part of the body. There is dark green natural glaze over the neck to the upper part of the body. Coupled with the slender neck and the overall form with slightly square shoulders, the glaze drooping toward the bottom exudes stark beauty. Since it is very rare that a large Sueki like this one retains its original form as a burial accessory in a tumulus, this is a very valuable material.