NARA (TR) – Nara Prefectural Police have arrested a 39-year-old Taiwanese woman on suspicion of vandalizing a designated National Treasure at Yakushiji Temple by pouring liquid over it earlier this year, reports TV Asahi (Aug. 23).
Tsai I-Chen, a self-described television host, is accused of violating the Cultural Properties Protection Law.
According to police, Tsai poured a liquid over the “Bussokuseki”—an ancient stone bearing the footprints of Buddha—inside the main hall of the temple in Nara City this past April.
Investigators analyzed the stains left on the relic and detected glycerin, a compound commonly used in cosmetics.
Upon her arrest, Tsai admitted to the allegations and provided a bizarre justification for the vandalism.
“When I am deeply moved by something, I pour oil on it and pray,” she reportedly told police. “So I believe I poured oil on the Bussokuseki as well.”
According to investigators, Tsai was visiting Japan on holiday at the time of the incident and returned to Taiwan shortly after. However, authorities were waiting for her when she attempted to re-enter Japan on the 22nd, at which point she was taken into custody.
