American Tourist Accused of Defacing Shrine Gate in Japan

In a stark reminder of the consequences of holiday misadventures, an American tourist has been arrested in Tokyo for alleged vandalism of a historic shrine’s gate.

At a Glance

A 65-year-old American, Steve Hayes, was arrested for defacing Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu shrine gate.
Hayes allegedly scratched five Latin letters onto the shrine’s gate pillar.
The incident is part of a trend of tourist misbehavior post-2020.
The Meiji Jingu shrine honors Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, built in 1920.
Japan experiences a surge in tourism, boosting the economy but causing local concerns.

Details of the Incident

Steve Hayes, a 65-year-old American tourist, was arrested in Tokyo for allegedly damaging a traditional wooden gate at the revered Meiji Jingu shrine. According to reports, Hayes used his fingernails to engrave five Latin letters into the gate’s pillar, purportedly as a prank. The scratched markings measured around 5cm by 6cm and were reported to police instantaneously, resulting in Hayes’s arrest the following Wednesday on suspicion of damaging property.

The Meiji Jingu shrine, erected in 1920, stands as a tribute to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. This shrine holds significant cultural and historical value and attracts numerous visitors every year. Hayes’s alleged act resonates amidst a troubling pattern of degrading tourist behavior as international travel surges back to life following 2020.

Tokyo police have arrested a 65-year-old American man on suspicion of property damage after he allegedly carved letters into the wooden pillar of a torii gate at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward. https://t.co/zTEiGhJJWY

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) November 14, 2024

Previous Incidents of Misbehavior

Reports of similar acts include a previous incident involving a Chilean woman, who faced severe online backlash for performing pull-up exercises on a shrine’s red gate. With 139,000 Instagram followers, she later apologized publicly, claiming it “was not my intention to show disrespect.” Such incidents underscore the fine line between tourist banter and cultural disrespect, prompting calls to ensure decorum among visitors.

This behavior among tourists does not solely affect Meiji Jingu shrine. Another defacement was reported at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where the kanji for “death” was graffitied on a stone wall. Additionally, the Yasukuni Shrine faced prior vandalism in the form of spray-painted graffiti and desecration through urination by a Chinese man, who was subsequently charged.

Tourism’s Double-Edged Sword

Japan’s ongoing challenge involves balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the cultural and societal strains it imposes. In the first half of the year, Japan welcomed a record 17.78 million visitors, courtesy of a weak yen boosting tourism numbers. This surge aligns with Japan’s ambition to attract 60 million tourists annually in the next five to six years. However, measures like increased admission fees and visitor limits are being considered to preserve local sanctity and order.

Japanese municipalities have taken further steps to curb misconduct. Himeji’s mayor proposed charging foreign tourists a higher fee to visit its renowned samurai-era castle, a move intended to discourage poor behaviors and manage the numerous visitors. This approach is mirrored in other areas, such as Mount Fuji, where barriers have been installed yet face damage from careless tourists, highlighting the ongoing battle local authorities face.