Man Held for Splashing Oil at Shrine near Tokyo in 2015

Chiba, March 4 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese man living in the United States was arrested Wednesday for allegedly splashing an oil-like liquid at a shrine in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, in 2015. According to the Chiba prefectural police, Masahide Kanayama, 63, whose occupation is unknown, is suspected of damaging Katori Jingu, a Shinto shrine in the city of Katori. Kanayama was brought back to Japan under the Japan-U.S. extradition treaty. He has admitted to the allegations. In March 2015, he allegedly damaged four parts of the shrine, including pillars and steps of its main worship hall, a state-registered tangible cultural property, by splashing an oil-like substance. Other areas of Katori Jingu were also found with signs of oil scattered. Similar incidents happened at sites of traditional buildings across Japan, including Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in the Chiba city of Narita, as well as Nijo-jo Castle and Todaiji Temple in the western cities of Kyoto and Nara. The prefectural police will investigate whether Kanayama was involved in the other incidents and what his motives might have been. The police identified Kanayama through security camera footage and obtained an arrest warrant in April 2015. As he had left Japan and stayed in the United States, however, they were unable to execute it. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]