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

The Higashinomiya Tumulus is a 78-meter-long, front-square and rear-square mound (J., zempo-koho-fun) on Mount Hakusan in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. From a vertical style stone chamber (J., tateana sekishitsu) in the rear mound, various artifacts were discovered. The most remarkable were eleven mirrors, which included one with a triangular rim and god-and-animal motif, and another with an animal motif. The latter mirror in particular has a unique style. The lidded containers, hoe-, wheel- and ring-shaped bracelets, cylindrical beads and comma-shaped jewels are all made of high-quality stone. The iron swords, knives, hoes, and axes are also preserved in good condition. These artifacts are indispensable for the study of the Tokai area in the early Kofun period (ca. 250-ca. 600).