Japan arrests Chinese man for spray painting war memorial

A Chinese man has been arrested for purchasing the spray paint that was used to paint the word “toilet” on a controversial Japanese shrine, local media reported.

The incident at Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including those convicted of war crimes, sparked outrage across Japan.

One Tokyo businessman even offered a cash reward to catch anyone urinating on the pillar, a video of which was shared on Chinese social media.

Police arrested the first of three suspects on Tuesday and have issued arrest warrants for two more.

According to Japanese news agency Kyodo News, he is suspected of buying the paint used in the video.

The remaining two reportedly left the country the day after they allegedly took part in the act, which caused 4.2 million yen ($26,000, £20,000) in damage.

In the video, the suspect, who calls himself Ironhead, says he is disgusted by Japan’s decision to release treated wastewater – likely a reference to wastewater released from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant – which has infuriated many in China.

The shrine has long been a source of friction between Japan and its neighbors, China and South Korea.

It is common for Japanese government officials to visit Yasukuni Shrine during certain festivals and on the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

When then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine in 2014, China said the visit reflected “the wrong attitude toward history taken by the current Japanese administration”.

South Korea similarly condemned the visit, saying it “glorifies Japan’s colonialism and war of aggression.”