Sicilian underwater archaeologists are joining a Japanese operation for a joint venture exploring one of history’s most catastrophic military missions. The project in the seas off Ojika Island, in western Japan, is studying the failed attempts of the Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan to invade Japan in the 13th century. The khan launched two disastrous attacks on Japan, one in 1274 and the second in 1281, both of which collapsed after the intervention of a ‘divine wind’, or kamikaze.

The Sicilian team are joining an underwater excavation focused on the second attempt, during which, according to Japanese legend, 4,000 ships were sunk. Doubts have been cast on the number of ships wrecked in the invasion but abundant evidence has already been found off Ojika to confirm the fleet’s existence. The archaeologist heading the investigations, Asian Research Institute of Underwater Technology Director Hayashida Kenzo, has been working at the site for nearly two decades, during which period he has recovered dozens of artefacts. The main section of the wreck site, which lies at around 14 metres’ depth and buried beneath a thick layer of mud, has yielded up pottery, provisions, armaments, anchor stones and even early bombs packed with gunpowder. Despite the success of the mission, Kenzo hopes the Sicilian team will help uncover new wonders. Led by Sebastiano Tusa, the Sicilian crew of underwater archaeologists is considered one of the best in the world owing to its extensive experience in this field.

It has also developed innovative technology specifically designed to cope with the difficulties of underwater archaeology, which will help map even deeper layers at the site and guide the direction of future excavations. The collaborative project, which starts on Wednesday and is expected to last some weeks, is the second time the Sicilians have been called on to lend a hand at the site, following a similar initiative last year. The excavations at the site have already given experts a much greater insight into why the attempted invasions went so wrong. In addition to bad weather, the main problem appears to have been a lack of preparation. The khan assembled an astonishing number of boats but few were sturdy sea-faring vessels designed for their purpose. The cobbled-together fleet was also poorly equipped, Kenzo has concluded. The failed invasions are considered of major historic importance, setting a limit on Mongol expansion and representing the only time Japan came close to being occupied in 1500 years before World War II. photo: a replica of one of Kublai Khan junks