American tourist sparks outrage with Meiji-Jingū shrine vandalism
The antics of tourists in places of religious worship never cease to amaze. In Japan, there's much talk about an American tourist who carved letters into the wooden gate of one of Tokyo's most frequently visited temples.
Meiji-jingū is a Shinto place of worship in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, visited by both the faithful and tourists alike.
American tourist went too far
Accompanied by his family, an American tourist visited Japan, arriving on Monday, 11th November. Unfortunately, he made a misguided attempt at a joke by carving letters with his fingernails into one of the pillars of the torii, a traditional gate at the entrance to the Meiji-jingū shrine.
The police arrested the man the following day. The 65-year-old was charged with desecrating this site; however, what consequences he faces for this misconduct was not disclosed.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The day before, carvings resembling Chinese characters were found on another gate leading to the same temple. The perpetrator was not identified.
Yasukuni also desecrated
Also this week, the police reported the initiation of an investigation after a symbol meaning "death" was discovered in two places on the stone wall of the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. In June and August, the pillars of this shrine's gate were marked with inscriptions meaning "toilet" in both English and Chinese.
Yasukuni has been controversial for years. It commemorates over 2 million Japanese who died in the Second World War, including 14 politicians and military leaders recognised as war criminals by an international tribunal.
