unilad homepage
  • News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Japan's ancient underwater 'pyramid' remains one of the world’s great mysteries

Home> News> World News

Updated 19:45 9 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 16:03 19 Dec 2023 GMT

Japan's ancient underwater 'pyramid' remains one of the world’s great mysteries

It's been compared to real-life Atlantis

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

While Atlantis may only be a myth, this Japanese monument might be the closest thing to a real-life version of it.

Labelled the Yonaguni Monument, the pyramid-like structure was discovered by Kihachiro Aratake, a local diver, in 1987.

The top of the nine meter tall monument is around 25 meters below the surface, and is located near Japan's Yonaguni island.

Advert

It's believed that it could be the ruins of what once was a civilisation dating back as far as 10,000 years.

Some are convinced that there are remains of what looks to have once been castles, temples, a stadium, and even roads.

Recalling the moment he came across the monument, Aratake said he was 'very emotional'.

"I stumbled upon it by pure coincidence," the told the BBC.

"I was very emotional when I found it.

"Upon discovering it, I realized that this would become a treasure of Yonaguni island.

"I kept it a secret. I didn't tell anyone on my staff."

The unusual monument has left people stumped for years.
deeperblue.com/TikTok

Following his discovery, a team of scientists started to research the mysterious rock formations alongside Aratake.

Professor Masaaki Kimura, of Ryukyu University, went on to label it as 'very difficult to explain away their origin as being purely natural' in light of 'the vast evidence of man's influence on the structures'.

Meanwhile, Aratake said it was the monuments 'spiral staircase' that convinced him that it was man-made.

As to who built it, one theory is that it was created by Jōmon people: hunter-gatherers who inhabited the islands as early as 12000 BC.

Many geologists have since studied the Yonaguni Monument for themselves and, while it could well be Japanese Atlantis, many have argued that it's just an unusual natural formation.

Diver Kihachiro Aratake discovered the Yonaguni Monument.
BBC

Robert Schoch, a professor at Boston University who has explored the site himself, previously told National Geographic: "It's basic geology and classic stratigraphy for sandstones, which tend to break along planes and give you these very straight edges, particularly in an area with lots of faults and tectonic activity."

Ryukyu University's Takayuki Ogata also thinks it was formed naturally. He went to visit the famous site in 2016.

"Upon first seeing it I immediately knew that the formations were similar to those on land," he said to the BBC.

"I've researched a lot of sites and done a lot of field work, but this was the first time I'd seen formations that were continuous from land to water."

Both sides of the argument for the Yonaguni Monument origins are yet to be proven right, leaving it as one of the world's biggest mysteries.

Featured Image Credit: Unveiled/YouTube

Topics: News, World News, Weird

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • Getty Stock Images
    6 hours ago

    This is what your walk says about your personality, according to new study

    The study examined the way someone's gait reflected their inner emotions

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    6 hours ago

    Expert reveals 3 red flag symptoms you should never ignore that will 'worry' your doctor

    A doctor has explained why it is so important to go to the doctor if you spot these symptoms

    News
  • X/@ICEgov
    7 hours ago

    ICE slammed for 'horrible' St. Patrick's Day post that's being called 'ironic'

    People had a strong reaction after ICE posted the image to its X page

    News
  • Alex Wong/Getty Images
    7 hours ago

    List of every country that has rejected Donald Trump and refused to join fight in Iran war

    Trump said the war with Iran 'is going great' as he updated press last week

    News
  • The ultimate TV and takeaway pairings revealed, backed by science
  • Mysterious tunnel has been found inside Great Pyramid of Giza
  • Mysterious doors in Great Pyramid of Giza hiding ‘secrets’ to be unlocked for first time
  • Divers discover remains of 19th century cemetery and hospital underwater