Off the wire
• 2nd LD Writethru: 4 killed, 25 injured as gunmen storm provincial attorney office in Afghanistan  • 1st LD: Iran's leader says Saudi-led coalition committed "mistake" in bombing Yemen  • Pakistan confirms procuring U.S. military equipment  • China unearths 1,500 relic pieces at Unit 731 site  • 1st LD: Sanctions against Iran should be removed "on same day" as deal signed: Iranian supreme leader  • Shaolin abbot promises regulation after donation scandal  • Economic fugitive extradited to China from Greece  • Indonesia bans transaction in foreign currency to guard rupiah  • Senior CPC official meets head of Belarus president administration  • China's top legislator meets Russian young lawmakers  
You are here: 　 Home

World Heritage sites vandalized in W. Japan

Xinhua, April 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Oily liquid spots were found in Kyoto's Toji and Nara's Kashihara Shrine, bringing the number of recently vandalized cultural heritage sites in western Japan to 12 on Thursday, local media reported.

Toji, or Eastern Temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage site built around 1,200 years ago. Oily liquid spots were found at the temple 's Mieido Hall, designated a national treasure, as well as other locations, during a check recently prompted by news of vandalism at other temples.

Similar oily stains were found in Nara's Kashihara Shrine on Thursday morning. As there was no such stain found at the shrine on Tuesday morning, the vandalism act was inferred to happen between Tuesday and Thursday morning.

A series of vandalism acts have happened recently in western Japan, defacing World Heritage sites and well-known temples such as Hasedera, Okadera and Kinpusenji in Nara, and Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

The police have been undertaking investigations on the incidents under the Law for Protection of Cultural Properties and other related legislation.

The components of the liquid used in the vandalism and footage from security cameras near the temples and shrines are being analyzed. Endi