Japanese netizens upset Taiwanese actress fined only S$4,052 after staining 1,200-year-old national treasure

Japanese netizens are enraged over what they perceived to be overly lenient punishment on a Taiwanese celebrity who defaced a national treasure.

Taiwanese actress Tsai Yi Chen was fined 500,000 Yen (S$4,052) for pouring a liquid on the Buddha's Footprint Stone (the Bussokuseki) in the Yakushiji Temple in Nara on Apr. 6, reported ETtoday.

According to the Japanese police, the liquid contained glycerin, and it reportedly stained the artefect which is over 1,200 years old.

The case

After Tsai's visit to the temple, staff noticed traces of liquid on the artefact. They notified the police.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed her shaking a small bottle.

She subsequently poured the liquid on the national treasure.

Police's investigations led to Tsai's identification.

They arrested her on Aug. 22 when she landed at Kansai International Airport.

ETtoday reported that Tsai admitted the offence during questioning, and gave police an unusual explanation, saying:

"Whenever I come across something that moves me, I rub oil on it and pray, so I probably did that to the Bussokuseki too."

"I've poured oil at other places before for the purpose of praying," she also reportedly said. 

Tsai was subsequently fined 500,000 Yen (S$4,052).

She paid the fine and was released on the evening of Sep. 2.

Her apology

On Sep. 3, Tsai posted an apology in Chinese and Japanese on social media, apologising to the people of Japan.

"I should have been more considerate and made a greater effort to understand the culture, history, and laws of different countries, especially those with important historical and cultural value. I have no excuse for my ignorance."

She also apologised to the Taiwanese for setting "a terrible example" and causing "an impact on Taiwanese society."

Japanese netizens are not satisfied

The apology, however, did nothing to calm Japanese netizens, and their comments were overwhelmingly critical.

One wrote: "Only 500,000? Cheap, it's missing four zeros."

Another wrote: "Too lenient. Many countries don't even have 1,300 years of history."

A third wrote: "So the value of a national treasure is only this much?"

Several called for tougher measures and urgent reforms to criminal penalties.

Others argued that an entry ban should be automatic, and that stricter laws restricting foreigners should have been introduced long ago.

"What about the other cases?"

Some netizens also recalled that Tsai had reportedly admitted that this was not her first offence, and questioned whether police had wrapped things up too quickly.

One asked: "Didn't the news say she had done the same thing elsewhere in Japan? What about the investigations into those cases?"