American Tourist Arrested After Allegedly Defacing Gate at Tokyo Shrine

Mar. 15, 2025

An entrance gate or ‘torii’ at Meiji shrine in Tokyo.Photo:BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty

A 65-year-old American tourist was arrested in Japan for allegedly defacing the entrance to a famous shrine in Tokyo, according to reports.On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Steven Lee Hayes was arrested on suspicion of property damage, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department confirmed toNBC News.The day before, Hayes allegedly “carved alphabet letters” into a wooden pillar of the entrance – a traditional Japanese torii gate – of the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, police said, NBC News reports.A shrine employee allegedly noticed the carving and called police, according to theTokyo Reporter.After that, police viewed surveillance video that allegedly captured Hayes carving the letters of his family’s last name into the wooden pillar with his fingernails,UPIreports.Scratches are seen on a traditional wooden torii gate at Meiji shrine in Tokyo on November 14, 2024.YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via GettyWant to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.First opened in 1920, Meiji Shrine was dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken, who had died in the previous decade,CNNreports.Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s.Hayes was arrested at his hotel, UPI reports. He had arrived in Tokyo on Monday with his family for vacation.It is unclear where in the United States Hayes is from and whether he is still in custody.If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($1,918) for the alleged vandalism, according to CNN.Police continue to investigate.

A 65-year-old American tourist was arrested in Japan for allegedly defacing the entrance to a famous shrine in Tokyo, according to reports.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Steven Lee Hayes was arrested on suspicion of property damage, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department confirmed toNBC News.

The day before, Hayes allegedly “carved alphabet letters” into a wooden pillar of the entrance – a traditional Japanese torii gate – of the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, police said, NBC News reports.

A shrine employee allegedly noticed the carving and called police, according to theTokyo Reporter.

After that, police viewed surveillance video that allegedly captured Hayes carving the letters of his family’s last name into the wooden pillar with his fingernails,UPIreports.

Scratches are seen on a traditional wooden torii gate at Meiji shrine in Tokyo on November 14, 2024.YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty

YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.First opened in 1920, Meiji Shrine was dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken, who had died in the previous decade,CNNreports.

Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s.

Hayes was arrested at his hotel, UPI reports. He had arrived in Tokyo on Monday with his family for vacation.

It is unclear where in the United States Hayes is from and whether he is still in custody.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($1,918) for the alleged vandalism, according to CNN.

Police continue to investigate.

source: people.com