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A community in Adelaide's north is pleading for the safe return of a stolen bronze statue that was gifted to the suburb by its Japanese sister city almost 20 years ago.
The Nakayoshi sculpture was given to the city of Salisbury by Japan in 2004 as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
But a thief allegedly set upon the statue in the middle of the night, slicing through its ankles using an angle grinder and taking the body.
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The Japanese mayor of sister city Mobara was due to visit Salisbury next November for the 20th anniversary of the Nakayoshi statue's presence in Mobara Park.
But without a sculpture to show for, Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM called the theft "the saddest thing that's happened since I've been mayor".
"It's absolutely irreplaceable and I just don't know how I could possibly bring the Japanese mayor down here next November and let him see this – because he'll be rocked," Mayor Aldridge said.
Mayor Aldridge and the Salisbury community are now calling on the thief to return the sentimental object.
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"Please bring it back – it's more than just a statue – it's all about friendship – it's important to the people of Salisbury and it's important to the people of Japan," Aldridge said.
Police are investigating the theft and urge anyone with information about it to contact them.
