
Japan’s Mermaid Mummy
An ancient mummified "mermaid" found in a Japanese temple has been studied by scientists, and it turns out to be even stranger than previously thought.
It seemed that a real mermaid mummy had been discovered in Japan. According to the inscription on its box, the eerie creature, only 30 centimetres tall – was found in the 18th century near the Japanese island of Shikoku. The mummy then ended up in a temple, where it was displayed and worshipped by local residents.
Fabric with fish skin
In 2022, scientists at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts (KUSA) were finally allowed to examine the famous "mermaid" for the first time. At first glance, it appeared that the so-called mermaid was made from the torso and head of a monkey sewn onto the body of a decapitated fish.

Photo: KUSA
However, it turned out to be something different. The researchers studied the creature using X-rays and CT scans, carbon dating, DNA analysis and electron microscopy. They discovered that the top part was made of fabric and paper, painted with a mixture of sand and charcoal. There were indeed parts of fish: the tail contained the skeleton of a fish’s tail, the teeth and jaws were from a predatory fish, and parts of the arms, shoulders, neck and cheeks were found to be covered in fish skin. Just as expected, however, a mermaid it was not.
19th century scam
Although the inscription claims that it was caught in a fishing net between 1736 and 1740, radiocarbon dating of the scales showed that the object was only made in the 19th century. Perhaps the mermaid was created as a joke to be sold to wealthy people who believed the mythical creature could improve their health.
Despite these scientific findings, the high priest of the temple in which the mummy was venerated declared that the "mummy" will continue to be highly esteemed.