Key Facts
• September 9, 2025: Graffiti discovered on Kasuga Taisha’s East Corridor pillar.
• Graffiti includes Chinese characters meaning “Forever Love” and names.
• Dimensions: 7 cm wide, 28 cm tall, written in blue ink.
• Similar graffiti found at the shrine’s northeast worship area.
• 2022: Similar vandalism with red ink on stone lanterns reported.
• Police investigating under Cultural Property Protection Law violations.
Summary
Graffiti in Chinese, including phrases like “Forever Love” and names, was found on the East Corridor pillar of Kasuga Taisha, a World Heritage Site in Nara, Japan. The markings, measuring 7 cm by 28 cm, were written in blue ink. Additional graffiti was discovered at the shrine’s northeast worship area. This incident follows a similar case in 2022, where red ink was used to vandalize stone lanterns. Authorities are investigating the matter as a violation of the Cultural Property Protection Law.
