Taiwanese entertainer detained for allegedly defacing Nara temple's sacred stone
Japanese authorities have arrested a 39-year-old Taiwanese woman from the entertainment sector on suspicion of pouring a liquid on a nationally-protected stone at Yakushiji Temple in Nara.
Local police in Japan have taken into custody Tsai Yi-chen, a 39-year-old Taiwanese figure in the entertainment field, for allegedly defiling a treasured stone at Yakushiji Temple in Nara. The stone, engraved with the Buddha’s footprint, is designated a national treasure and part of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Investigators identified Tsai through surveillance video and detained her upon her return to Japan at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture.
Laboratory analysis detected glycerin in the liquid she is accused of pouring onto the monument. Tsai reportedly told officers she thought she was applying oil to an object that moves during prayer. Her manager posted an apology on Facebook, expressing regret for the public concern and stating that the case is still under legal review, with no direct contact with Tsai at this stage.
Why it matters
The case highlights the legal consequences of damaging cultural heritage sites and raises diplomatic sensitivities between Japan and Taiwan.
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