A 17-year-old Canadian teenager has been questioned by police in Japan after carving the name “Julian” on a wooden pillar at the Toshodaiji Kondo temple complex in Nara. The incident, which took place on 7 July, was witnessed by a Japanese tourist who promptly alerted temple staff.
The Toshodaiji Kondo temple is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the pillar that was carved is located in the temple’s “Golden Hall,” which is a national treasure of Japan. The teenager was questioned by police on suspicion of violating the cultural properties protection law.
According to Japanese newspaper The Mainichi, the boy made the carving using his fingernail. The police stated that the teenager claimed his actions were not intended to harm Japanese culture. He is currently with his parents, who were present at the scene of the vandalism.
A monk at the temple expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging that while it may not have been done maliciously, it is still regrettable and sad. The Toshodaiji Kondo temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a collection of sites that offer insights into life during the eighth century, a period of significant cultural and political transformation in Japan.
Under Japanese law, damaging an object of “important cultural property” can result in a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of ¥300,000 ($2,120; £1,650).
This incident follows a separate case involving a UK-based man who carved a message into a wall at Rome’s Colosseum. The man, Ivan Dimitrov, faces legal proceedings for his actions and has apologized, stating that he was unaware of the monument’s age at the time.
