American Arrested For Carving Letters Into Japan Shrine Gate

A 65-year-old American tourist was arrested in Tokyo on November 13 for allegedly carving alphabetical characters into the pillar of a torii gate at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This incident highlights Japan’s growing challenge of dealing with unruly visitors amidst a surge in inbound tourism. The country received nearly 27 million tourists by September, contributing 5.86 trillion yen (£30 billion) to the economy, but cases of vandalism and overtourism have raised concerns. The suspect, who arrived with his family on November 11, was traced through security footage and detained at his hotel. Police suspect he used his fingernail to etch family initials into the sacred structure. US Embassy staff are providing consular support, with further details withheld due to privacy considerations.

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