Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs says a high-performance infrared camera has created a sharp image of an ancient mural painting at the Kitora burial mound in Nara Prefecture.



Mural paintings inside Kitora Tumulus in the village of Asuka are designated as a national treasure.



The Azure Dragon, which is one of the four directional deities, is depicted on the eastern wall of the stone chamber of the tumulus.



Most parts of the dragon were covered with mud with only parts of its head and forefoot visible.



The agency's officials have photographed it with the infrared camera and processed the images.



They said at a meeting of the agency's study group on Thursday that the process has made the shapes of the dragon's head and forefoot clearer.



The legendary creature's long and thin body and scales on its back have become visible, although some parts, such as the tip of its long tail and hind feet, remain blur.



But agency officials say they have captured the whole image of the blue dragon.



Emeritus professor Wada Seigo of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto chairs the study group.



He said that capturing the whole shape of the dragon with the latest technology is a great achievement to restore the original painting and show it to many people.



The Cultural Affairs Agency plans to conduct an in-depth examination on the painting to see what is still covered by mud, by using different methods to photograph it.



The agency plans to display the photos when the murals are opened to the public.