A 672g gold mask of the Thracian ruler Teres, discovered by Bulgarian archaeologist Georgi Kitov at Svetitsa mogila (a Thracian mound-tomb) near Shipka Pass in the summer of 2004, will be sent to Japan in August 2008 as part of the exhibition Thracian Treasures from Bulgaria. The exhibition will be on in Sapporo, Japan, from September 2008 until the end of April 2009.

The mask is currently on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia.

According to a July 28 article on Bulgarian news site netinfo.bg, the 23.5-carat mask is not a burial mask, unlike Mycenaean masks of the same period.

The Thracians lived on the Balkan peninsula from about 3000 BCE to the sixth century CE. Known for their gold working skills, they were first mentioned in Homer's Iliad, as allies of the Trojans.

The exhibition is going to Japan as part of a letter of agreement between Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture and Japanese animation and film industry firm Toei Company, Bulgarian magazine HoReMag reported on its website.

Along with the mask of Teres, who was the first king of (reigning 475 to 445 BCE) the Odrysian state of Thrace, items from the Panagyurishte and Borovo treasures will be shown to the Japanese public. These include a gold wreath, a silver greave and a rhyton from Zlatinitsa.

HoReMag also wrote that accompanying the exhibition is expected to be a heavy media campaign promoting Bulgaria as a tourist destination. Because sometimes, as nice as imports be, yoghurt, wine and Thracian treasures just have to be experienced in their land of origin.