Easter Island Lookalike Statue Washes Ashore, ‘Moai Rocks’ Found in Miyagi After Japan Tsunami [PHOTO]

While possessions lost by homeowners in Superstorm Sandy are continually found ashore on the east coast, a discovery of a different nature recently washed ashore overseas. Miyagi, a prefecture in Japan that was hit by the devastating 2011 tsunami, said a rock formation has recently emerged offshore that bears a striking resemblance to the well-known and mysterious Easter Island statues.

Residents of the small fishing village are now claiming the “Moai Rocks" (a term used to describe the Easter Island, human-like statues in Polynesia) resemble the famous Easter Island statues as the newly found rocks appear to bear a similar forehead, nose and flat chin as the Easter Island statues. The Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday that the rock, which is now referred to as a “reclining Moai,” was discovered after the tsunami caused the area’s coastline to sink 70 centimeters.

The rock, which measures 5 meters long and 2 meters wide, can reportedly be seen best at high tide and is located roughly 30 meters from the shoreline in Shizugawa Bay.

See a photo of the Easter Island lookalike statue here.

Just last week, a nearby town in Japan, Minamisanriku, received an intentionally designed, look-alike Easter Island statue from Chile. The Tokyo Times reported that the statue was given as a gift in an effort to restore hope among citizens after their former statue was destroyed in the 2011 tsunami. “We can see the Moai in this town every day from now [on],” said Mayor Jin Sato. “It will be a big symbol for the recovery.”

The Asahi Shumbun reported that the recently discovered Moia is being considered a continuing link to the countries friendship with Chilie.