Kublai Khan, the grandson of Mongol king Genghis Khan conquered China but failed to overtake Japan. However, his massive invasion fleet of 1281 left behind more than traces of warfare. Archaeologists in Japan were investigating a Mongol invasion ship off the coast of Japan when they discovered 29 gaming pieces and five dice that had been lying there on the seabed for the past 745 years, as per a report by Arkeonews.Announced in October 2026, the discovery marks the first time gaming pieces have been found among the Mongol invasion shipwrecks in the area. Professor Yoshifumi Ikeda of Kokugakuin University joined researchers from the Matsuura City Board of Education in investigating the wreck off Takashima Island in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture.During excavations carried out in October 2026, divers examined the stern of the ship, its wooden compartments, and structural pieces believed to be the keel. Evaluations of the preserved remains indicate that the ship may have been approximately 30 metres long. If confirmed, this ship could be the largest of the three invasion wrecks identified in the region. While examining the stern of a ship located about 150 metres from the shore at a depth of 18-19 metres, researchers recovered 34 gaming pieces. Five of them are dice about one centimetre in size while the other 29 are rectangular stones about three centimetres long.The markings on the stones bear a resemblance to pieces used in traditional games played in China. A connection to a Chinese-origin game called Tianjiu has been considered. Researchers believe the stones belong to a tradition that may have a historical relationship with games that developed later, such as mahjong. However, researchers have yet to identify exactly which game the pieces belonged to.The gaming pieces are one of the many discoveries made in the area. In the same section, archaeologists unearthed iron objects believed to be food containers, a grinding bowl, and a knife. These items suggest that the stern of the ship may have housed a section used for food preparation or provisions storage.Yoshifumi Ikeda, an archaeologist from Kokugakuin University participating in the dig, suggests that those tasked with food preparation may have played games during their breaks. Although this remains a hypothesis, the discovery of gaming pieces alongside kitchen-related artefacts is a significant detail showing that life on the ship consisted of more than just military activities.Genghis Khan was a Mongolian ruler was one of the most famous conquerors in history and is known to have conquered a vast territory across Eurasia, creating history’s largest contiguous empire. His grandson Kublai Khan, established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271 and completed the conquest of China by defeating the Southern Song Dynasty in 1279. Having established a powerful administration over the eastern lands of the Mongol Empire, the ruler sought to extend his hegemony to Japan. However, two major military campaigns launched against Japan ended in failure.Following the first attempt in 1274, Kublai Khan prepared an even larger invasion fleet in 1281. This operation, involving forces from China and Korea, was one of the largest overseas military operations of its time. While Japanese defences hindered the invaders’ progress, a violent typhoon in August 1281 destroyed a large portion of the fleet.In Japanese tradition, these storms eventually became associated with the concept of kamikaze, or “divine wind.” However, it would be inaccurate to attribute the failure of the invasion solely to weather conditions. Japanese resistance, supply issues within the fleet, and the overall difficulties of the military operation also influenced the outcome.The seabed around Takashima has become one of the most important archaeological research sites for this failed expedition. In the underwater research off Takashima, the first invasion ship was identified in 2011, and the second in 2015. Remains of a third ship were detected in 2023, and subsequent research provided new information regarding the ship’s structure.