A 65-year-old American vacationer has been arrested in Japan for allegedly defacing a picket gate at a shrine in Tokyo, in line with native police.
Steve Lee Hayes has reportedly admitted to writing “his family member’s names” on the pillar of a torii gate on the Meiji Shrine within the Shibuya ward of Tokyo on Tuesday, the Japan Occasions reported.
Torii gates, buildings discovered on the entrance of Shinto shrines throughout Japan, symbolize the transition from the mundane to the sacred. The Meiji Shrine was established in 1920 in honor of Emperor Meiji, Japan’s 112nd emperor who ascended to the throne in 1867, and his spouse Empress Shoken.
The alleged incident occurred simply after 11 a.m. on Tuesday. In accordance with the police’s worldwide crime division, the American, whose deal with and occupation haven’t been disclosed, used his fingernails to etch 5 letters into one of many gates.
Investigators used safety digicam footage to arrest Hayes, who arrived in Japan together with his household on Monday. He was detained at his Tokyo resort two days afterward suspicion of property harm.
It was not instantly clear if Hayes remained in custody on Thursday.
