It was not known until 1961 that a reliable source of artificial mummification has existed in Japan. There are two dozen Buddhist mummies in this country. In a country of high humidity, such as Japan, the belief that mummification could not, and did not, exist would not be altogether unfounded, but rather more a matter of common sense. The mummy of priest Kochi (preserved at Saishoji Temple, Teradomari, Niigata Pref.) has become famous, since it appeared in the book 'Snow Country Tales' written by Bokushi Suzuki in 1841 (Fig.
