Taiwanese Actress Tsai Yi-chen Arrested in Japan Over National Treasure Damage
Taiwanese actress Tsai Yi-chen, recognized for her television work in KO One and K.O.3an Guo, was arrested by Japanese authorities on August 22, upon arriving at Kansai International Airport. The detention stems from an April 6 incident at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, where a suspect allegedly poured clear glycerin onto the designated national treasure known as the Buddha Footprint Stone, leaving 1-to-2-centimeter stains.
The Airport Detention and Police Investigation
The sequence of events shifted on August 22 when Japanese police detained Tsai at Kansai International Airport during her latest entry into the country. Investigators utilized surveillance footage from the Nara temple to identify the suspect connected to the April 6 staining of the Buddha Footprint Stone. Laboratory checks later detected glycerin—a substance commonly utilized as a sweetener and in cosmetics—within the liquid applied to the sacred artifact.
Following her detention at the border, Tsai admitted to the alleged act. According to police statements, the actress told investigators that she possesses a personal habit of pouring oil as a prayer when encountering sights that move her deeply. Japanese law enforcement authorities are currently investigating whether identical incidents occurred at other locations.
Management Response and Legal Representation
Tsai’s management team confirmed the arrest on August 24, noting that representatives have been unable to establish direct contact with the actress. Instead, updates are relayed through her family and a local Japanese lawyer handling the case. Meanwhile, her sister, Tsai Han-tsen, stated through the management agency that she learned of the detention through media reports and remains in the process of gathering facts about the situation.
As the legal proceedings move forward, Tsai’s management has requested that the public allow Japanese authorities the necessary time and space to complete their investigation into the temple damage.
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