Japanese restoration expert donates lifelong collection to Taiwan museum, rejects US and China bids

Isamu Sakamoto, a renowned Japanese expert in the preservation and rescue of paper-based cultural heritage, officially donated his lifelong collection of 45 precious transnational artifacts free of charge today to the National Museum of Prehistory located in Taitung. Spanning different historical eras and geographical domains, this batch of artifacts holds exceptionally high cultural and historical research value. During the donation ceremony, Sakamoto revealed a touching behind-the-scenes detail: prior to this, multiple academic institutions and collection units from countries including the United States and China had expressed strong intentions through various channels to acquire the collection, hoping to incorporate these precious assets into their holdings. However, after careful consideration, he ultimately chose Taiwan, stating candidly that "what my heart desires most is still Taiwan." This profound cross-border friendship and cultural entrustment has written a warm and significant chapter for Taiwan's museum community.

Looking back at Sakamoto's academic career and professional background, he is a premier Japanese expert in the restoration and preservation of paper-based cultural heritage, having dedicated himself for many years to the rescue of fragile paper, ancient texts, and transnational historical artifacts. The preservation of paper artifacts requires not only extraordinary patience, but also exquisite scientific techniques and a profound respect for history. Throughout his career, Sakamoto has handled countless precious historical documents, deeply understanding that these cultural assets are often the collective memory of all humanity and should not be easily lost or damaged due to improper preservation. The 45 precious transnational artifacts he has accumulated are not merely private collections; they are the crystallization of his decades of traveling, researching, and safeguarding history across the globe. Each artifact carries heavy historical imprints and cultural contexts, and their rarity is self-evident.

Because of the universal value and historical weight of these artifacts, when Sakamoto intended to find the most appropriate permanent home for them, many major international institutions keenly sensed the opportunity. It is understood that several well-known libraries and museums from the United States, as well as multiple heavyweight academic and collection units from China, had actively contacted Sakamoto, even offering generous terms to express a strong desire to acquire the collection. For any collector, entrusting their life's work to top-tier institutions in global superpowers is undoubtedly a highly alluring option, offering not only immense exposure on the international stage but also access to top-notch hardware preservation facilities. However, Sakamoto was not swayed by these external halos and benefits; he held his own yardstick for measuring cultural belonging, and that yardstick ultimately pointed to Taiwan.

Sakamoto's deep connection and trust in Taiwan stem primarily from his long-term exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan's academic and museum communities. In recent years, Taiwan has demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and international vision in the preservation of historical culture and the research of multi-ethnic historical materials, with the National Museum of Prehistory playing a pivotal role in the study of Austronesian culture and local history. During his interactions with relevant Taiwanese units, Sakamoto deeply felt the respect, enthusiasm, and selfless dedication of Taiwanese scholars toward cultural assets. He believes that entrusting these precious transnational artifacts to Taiwan will not only ensure they receive the most proper professional care and scientific preservation, but will also allow these artifacts to maximize their educational and research functions on Taiwan's soil, generating a profound dialogue with Taiwan's historical context.

The smooth acquisition of these transnational artifacts by the National Museum of Prehistory holds profound and significant symbolic meaning for Taiwan's cultural diplomacy and international academic exchanges. Amidst an era of globalization and complex, shifting geopolitics, a top Japanese scholar's resolute decision to entrust his precious assets to Taiwan, defying the competition of powerful nations, proves that Taiwan's soft power and professional image in the field of cultural preservation have gained high international recognition. This not only enriches the museum's collection but also opens wider doors for Taiwan's future international artifact cooperation and historical research. The arrival of these 45 artifacts will serve as an important medium for the Taiwanese public to understand world history and cultural heritage preservation, while also bearing witness to a transnational friendship built on professional trust and cultural resonance.