Ufologies grab any straw hinting at the presence of an alien mind. The story of Utsuro-Bune seems to be interesting in this respect, the true meaning of which is still debated.
Meeting on Japanese shores
The event took place in the Japanese province of Hitachi in 1803. A local legend, accompanied by sketches from eyewitnesses, says that on February 22, 1803, a strange boat appeared on the shore, noticed by local fishermen. The name “Utsuro-Bune” itself means “hollow / empty boat”. The vessel was made in a round shape, stretching 5.5 meters wide and 3.3 meters high.
Comparing Utsuro-Bune characters with characters at RAF Bentwaters (UK) and Roswell (American city).
The lower parts represented bonded metal, bronze or iron plates that protected the ship from a crash on sea cliffs. The upper part was covered with glass panels in places and painted red. The walls inside were painted with unknown symbols. In the corner lay a bottle of water, some food and two sheets.
But the special attention was attracted by the mysterious guest. The fishermen looked surprised at the girl who had left the boat. Height - 1.5 m, incredibly pale skin, a beautiful dress of unprecedented matter and long red hair (which is not typical for Japanese women). In her hands she held a strange box, to which no one was allowed. Superstitious fishermen were frightened, they drove the girl into the boat and pushed him away from the coast so that she would wander further along the water.
What was it?
The first investigations into the incident appeared in 1844, written by the Japanese writer during the Edo Kekutei Bakin period. Then more modern studies were conducted in 1925 and 1962. It is important to note that there were many stories about the mysterious boat and the strange girl who appeared in different places on the Japanese shores. Thus, there are three hypotheses:
- Just a legend
Historian, philosopher and folklorist Kunio Yanagita pointed out that rounded boats were familiar to Japan from ancient times. Here are just glass windows and metal plates can be attributed to the attributes of the Western world. He believed that it was just a legend made from local folklore and fantasy. But European notes in clothes were considered as a symbol of the fear that the culture of the outside world would invade Japan.
- Russian Beauty
Red hair, pallor, unusual dress ... This description made Kekutei Bakin believe that an unknown young girl (about 20 years old) was a Russian princess who escaped from her native lands (well, remember also “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” about the princess in a barrel ?) This would explain the strange characters on the walls (Russian letters) and unusual pallor (using powder in makeup). In other options, he pointed to a British or American princess, because some of the characters reminded him of signs on a British whaling vessel.
- Alien Guest
Ufologists and UFO hunters are not going to listen to any of the experts and believe that the Japanese sailors in 1803 were lucky to meet a representative of an alien race. And it was a meeting of the third type: the man literally came into contact with a living alien and his spaceship.
Well, but if it's a UFO, then why didn't it fly? Well, ufologies consider two possibilities. First, it is a crash. Perhaps the alien tried to get help from sailors who simply did not understand her. Secondly, it is not a UFO, but an NGO! Yes, there is such - an unidentified floating object. Maybe it's an alien scientist exploring our oceans.
Postscript
On the nature of Utsuro-Bune continue to argue so far. The event is described in several books about legends and tales of Japan. There are more scientific sources, but they are all based on retellings of local residents and ancient drawings with descriptions. Unfortunately, the beauty in the fancy boat no one else saw. By the way, in the illustrations she is usually depicted with an Asian appearance, but early descriptions rather pointed to European roots.
