The Story of Utsuro-bune (虚舟, translation: ‘hollow ship’) also known as Utsruo-fune, and Urobune, refers to an object that washed on the Eastern shores of Japan in the Hitachi province (today’s Ibaraki Prefecture) in 1803. There are multiple accounts of the story in 19th century texts, all describing the same event with minor differences between the texts.
Some say it’s Edo Period tall-tale, some say it was a European woman washed ashore, while still many others consider it one of the earliest stories of contact with extraterrestrial beings.
The story goes that an attractive young woman (approximately 18-20 years old) came ashore in a strange, round vessel with glass windows and a copper plated bottom. She wore strange garments of unknown fabric. Her skin was pale, with red hair covered in white extensions made of skin or some unknown material. In her hands she held a small, unidentifiable box.
The boat and the woman were discovered by local fisherman, but they were unable to communicate with her, as she spoke a language that the men did not recognize. She refused to let anyone touch the box. While exploring the ship, the men found strange carvings and symbols in the walls.
Unable to communicate with her, and unsettled by the odd nature of the situation, the fishermen let her back out to sea, never to be seen again.
Many historians, anthropologists and those with a keen interest in the paranormal have long studied this story. Was it a European stowaway or exile, an alien, or a goddess? What was in the woman’s box, and what were the symbols carved inside the boat?
Whatever the truth of the story, ARTEXPLORER’s brick-and-mortar gallery will be celebrating this strange tale along with many others next month during it’s 3rd annual “UNCANNY” exhibition.
Join us at our gallery for an art show centered around all things paranormal and occult.