Boing Boing

Boing Boing

American tourist arrested for scratching family names into sacred Japanese shrine as a "prank"

Mark Frauenfelder
Nov 14, 2024
∙ Paid

Meiji Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan (Photo: Mark Frauenfelder)

A 65-year-old American tourist was arrested in Tokyo for defacing one of the Meiji shrine's sacred torii gates. According to news reports, Steve Lee Hayes admitted to police he carved his family names into the wooden gate with his fingernail as a prank during vacation.

From The Japan Times:

Acc…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Boing Boing.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Happy Mutants LLC · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture