65-year-old guy apparently informed authorities he defaced Shinto shrine as a ‘prank’.
Published On 14 Nov 2024
Japanese authorities haveactually apprehended a 65-year-old American traveler for supposedly ruining a Tokyo shrine.
The male, recognized as Steve Hayes, is implicated of utilizing his fingernails to scratch 5 letters into a torii gate at the Meiji Jingu shrine on Tuesday earlymorning.
Hayes stated he was composing the name of a household member into the gate – which represents the border inbetween the living and spiritual worlds in the Shinto faith – as a trick, according to the cops.
Staff at the Meiji Jingu shrine, built in 1920 to honour the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his otherhalf Empress Shoken, found the damage the exactsame day and signaled authorities, who apprehended Hayes on Wednesday.
It was not rightaway clear how they recognized Hayes, who authorities state gothere in Japan with his household on Monday, nor what charges he might face.
It is the 2nd such occurrence at a shrine in the Japanese capital this week.
On Monday, cops stated they were examining after the kanji char