A teenager from Canada has been interrogated by Japanese police after carving letters onto a wooden pillar at an 8th Century temple in Nara, Japan, BBC reports.
The 17-year-old boy was witnessed by a Japanese tourist who promptly informed temple staff. The temple, known as Toshodaiji Kondo, is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The teenager was taken into custody on July 7 and questioned for allegedly violating the cultural properties protection law.
The carving of the name "Julian" was made on a pillar of the temple's "Golden Hall," which is considered a national treasure. The boy, accompanied by his parents, stated that his actions were not intended to harm Japanese culture.
A monk from the temple expressed disappointment over the incident, acknowledging that it may have been unintentional but still regrettable. Damaging objects of cultural significance in Japan can result in penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of $2,120.
This event comes shortly after another incident involving a UK-based man carving into the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage worldwide.
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