American Tourist Arrested for Defacing Tokyo Shrine Gate

The 65-year-old allegedly carved letters into a sacred structure during a family visit to Japan.

Steve Lee Hayes, a 65-year-old American, was arrested in Tokyo for allegedly using his fingernails to carve letters into a torii gate at the Meiji Jingu Shrine.
Hayes admitted to etching what he claimed were family members' names as a prank, an action that could lead to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.
The arrest was made after police identified Hayes through security camera footage and detained him at his hotel.
The incident has highlighted Japan's ongoing challenges with tourist behavior, as the country experiences record numbers of visitors.
US Embassy officials are providing consular assistance to Hayes, while Japanese authorities continue to investigate the defacement.