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Taiwanese celebrity Wu Xiong's photo broadcast by Japanese TV in temple vandalism probe

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • Taiwanese celebrity Wu Xiong is involved in a case of alleged vandalism at a Japanese temple.
  • Japanese media broadcast her clear face photo and identified her as a suspect, sparking debate in Taiwan about privacy.
  • Wu Xiong reportedly told Japanese authorities she poured oil for prayer, and police are investigating if she committed similar acts elsewhere.

Taiwanese celebrity Wu Xiong, also known as Cai Yi-chen, is at the center of an investigation in Japan for allegedly pouring oil on a national treasure at Yakushiji Temple in Nara. Japanese media outlets, including MBS and Yomiuri Television, broadcast clear images of Wu Xiong, identifying her as a suspect and noting her past career as an actress and host in Taiwan. The broadcasts have ignited a debate in Taiwan regarding privacy and media practices.

Internet influencer Cheap commented on the situation, highlighting that Japanese news showed Wu Xiong's "high-definition, uncensored" photo, sarcastically noting her fame in Japan. He contrasted this with Taiwanese news coverage, which he suggested often reveals personal details of victims but conceals the identity of perpetrators, questioning Japan's human rights standards in this context.

Japan news directly posted the photo, it really is Wu Xiong! High-definition, uncensored, above it wrote 'Taiwanese origin, self-proclaimed former artist,' Wu Xiong is famous in Japan.

โ€” CheapInternet influencer Cheap commented on the Japanese media's broadcast of Wu Xiong's photo.

Japanese authorities reported that Wu Xiong is suspected of pouring liquid, later identified as glycerol, onto the Buddha's footprint stone on April 6. Temple staff discovered the damage days later. Surveillance footage led police to identify her, and she was arrested upon re-entering Japan on August 22 after leaving the country post-incident. She was reportedly detained at the airport.

Taiwanese news is the most magical part, after watching you might know where the victim lives, what job they do, who their family members are, but you don't know what the perpetrator looks like. Is Japan really so inhumane?

โ€” CheapInternet influencer Cheap contrasted Taiwanese and Japanese media coverage regarding perpetrator identification.

Reports also indicate Wu Xiong may have told Japanese investigators that she had previously poured oil in other locations for prayer purposes. Police are actively investigating whether similar incidents have occurred. Her sister, actress Cai Han-chen, stated through her agent that she learned about the situation through the news and is still gathering information.

Under Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, damaging important cultural assets can result in imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 1 million yen. The final legal consequences are pending judicial determination.

I will pour oil for prayer for things that move me.

โ€” Wu XiongWu Xiong's reported statement to Japanese authorities about her actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.