The Dark Side of Art: Paintings More "Authentic" Than the Real Thing? The World's Largest Forgery Scandal Originating from Tokushima

1. The 67.2 Million Yen "Phantom Masterpiece"

In a corner of Tokushima City's Bunka no Mori Comprehensive Park stands the Tokushima Prefectural Museum of Modern Art. One of its collection's "signature pieces," a Cubist painting, no longer exists within the museum.

The artwork is titled "At the Cycle-Race Track 55" (commonly known in Japan as "The Cyclist"). It is believed to have been painted by French artist Jean Metzinger in the 1910s and was purchased by Tokushima Prefecture in 1999 from a gallery in Osaka for 67.2 million yen. It was displayed and loaned repeatedly both inside and outside the museum for many years and was introduced as an "exceptional masterpiece for a regional museum."ArtAsiaPacific

However, in the summer of 2024, this piece was suddenly engulfed in a "forgery scandal." The catalyst was overseas reports about Germany's "genius forger" Wolfgang Beltracchi and the concerns raised by both domestic and international parties to the museum.ArtAsiaPacific

2. Scientific Investigation Unveils "Outdated Pigments"

In response to the allegations, the museum collaborated with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties to conduct a thorough investigation. Analysis of the pigments used on the canvas revealed synthetic pigments that were not available during Metzinger's active period in the 1910s.Tokyo Weekender

Furthermore, irregularities were found in the provenance and authentication documents that were supposed to prove the artwork's origin. Although it had been auctioned at Christie's with an authoritative certificate attached, what these documents ultimately "guaranteed" was Beltracchi's craftsmanship.ArtAsiaPacific

In parallel with the investigation, local media attempted to contact Beltracchi himself. He reportedly admitted in emails and interviews that he had painted the piece, saying, "I apologize for causing confusion in such a wonderful country."ArtAsiaPacific

With the combination of scientific analysis, provenance investigation, and personal testimony, the museum officially recognized "The Cyclist" as a forgery by Beltracchi in the spring of 2025.art.bunmori.tokushima.jp

3. A Museum That Dares to Exhibit a "Forgery"

What is intriguing is the museum's subsequent response. Instead of simply sealing the piece in storage, the Tokushima Prefectural Museum of Modern Art made it publicly available, clearly indicating it was a forgery.

According to the explanatory materials released by the museum, the painting is "not a replica of an original but a work imagined by Beltracchi," skillfully mimicking the style and techniques of Metzinger from the same period. The painting itself is vibrant, featuring Cubism's characteristic decomposition of forms, collage-like textures, and the use of sand-mixed paint for materiality, giving it an "authentic" aura.art.bunmori.tokushima.jp

During the exhibition period, curator-led explanatory sessions were held. The museum's willingness to share painful questions such as "Why was it purchased?" "Why wasn't it detected?" and "How will trust be restored?" with visitors received a certain level of appreciation from media both domestically and internationally.art.bunmori.tokushima.jp

4. Full Refund, and the Canvas Departs

Nevertheless, the purchase cost of 67.2 million yen was taxpayer money. The prefecture continued persistent negotiations with the Osaka company that sold the piece, and in October 2025, they agreed to a full refund of the purchase amount. By November, the artwork was returned to the company, and procedures to remove it from the museum's asset register were underway.Tokyo Weekender

The entire sequence of events was reported by English-language media, art magazines, and both national and local Japanese newspapers, becoming known worldwide as "one of the most expensive forgeries in Japanese museum history."ArtAsiaPacific

5. The Shadow of Beltracchi Spreads Across Japan

The Tokushima incident is merely the tip of the iceberg. As investigations progressed, paintings believed to be Beltracchi's works began to be discovered across Japan.

One such piece was "Girl with a Swan," held by the Kochi Prefectural Museum of Art, previously attributed to German Expressionist painter Heinrich Campendonk. It was determined to be a forgery through investigations by the Berlin State Police and rights organizations, leading the museum to cease its exhibition.ArtAsiaPacific

Furthermore, reports suggest that Beltracchi's involvement is suspected in several paintings, including Kisling's "Kiki de Montparnasse" in an Okayama collection and a work by Marie Laurencin owned by a Tokyo gallery.Tokyo Weekender

Beltracchi himself has stated in past trials and interviews that he painted "around 300 pieces" in the styles of "over 120 artists," with only a small portion of these being identified.ArtAsiaPacific

Japan is also known for having amassed a large number of European masterpieces since the bubble era. This incident has brought to the surface the anxiety and curiosity about "how many more forgeries might be lurking in domestic museums and private collections."ウィキペディア

6. What Did Social Media Say?—Anger, Irony, and "Favorite Forgeries"

The discussions surrounding the incident were rapidly accelerated by reactions on social media, which spread alongside television reports.

When a local TV station aired news of the "Cyclist" exhibition, the footage was reposted on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with hashtags like "#Forgery," "#67.2MillionYen," and "#TokushimaPrefecturalMuseumOfModernArt" appearing.JRT四国放送

What became a sort of "flame" was, predictably, anger over the use of taxpayer money.

*The following comments are fictional quotes inspired by the tone of actual posts.*

• "In a time of tight local budgets, spending 67.2 million yen on a forgery is just crazy."

• "If you're going to buy expensive artworks, shouldn't more money be spent on authentication?"

On the other hand, those who went to see the actual piece had different reactions.

• "Even knowing it's a forgery, the painting is genuinely cool."

• "It's interesting how the impression changes when you view it as a 'real Metzinger' versus 'Beltracchi's work.'"

Indeed, many bloggers and influencers in Tokushima reported on visiting the infamous forgery, with articles raising simple legal questions like "Who owns the copyright?" and "Is it okay to exhibit a forgery?" gaining popularity.アメーバブログ（アメブロ）

Moreover, in art-loving communities, there are half-joking yet fundamental discussions about
imagining a "Beltracchi Exhibition"
or
"Would you visit a 'Fake Museum' that collects forgeries from all over Japan?"

What stands out on social media is the blend of **"amusement" and "desire to learn"** alongside "anger." The forgery incident is being consumed not just as a scandal but as content to ponder "what is a museum?" and "what is original?"JRT四国放送

7. Japan's Art Market and Strict Intellectual Property Protection

This scandal also highlighted the peculiarities of Japan's art market.

Despite being the world's fourth-largest economy, Japan's art market is said to hold only about 1% of the global share. Meanwhile, its intellectual property protection against counterfeits and pirated goods is among the strictest in the world. Customs inspect all mail and thoroughly intercept items that infringe on trademarks or design rights.Art Law

This strictness is also applied to artworks. For instance, in 2021, a department store chain was investigated by industry groups and police for selling counterfeit prints by Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama, leading to refunds and recalls of dozens of pieces.Art Law

Yet, Beltracchi's works managed to slip through auction houses, art dealers, and authentication certificates to reach museum walls. This case underscores the reality that "no matter how much legal framework and on-the-ground efforts are built up, perfect defense is impossible.".

8. Why Was It Not Detected?—The Limits of Experts and Hopes for AI

Why was such a "fake" not detected by anyone?

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