A 39-year-old Taiwanese woman named Cai Yizhen was arrested at Kansai International Airport on August 22, 2026, for allegedly pouring an unidentified liquid on the Buddha's Footprint Stone at Yakushi-ji Temple in Nara, Japan [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The Buddha's Footprint Stone is a national treasure carved in 753 AD during the Nara period representing the footprint of Shakyamuni Buddha [5].

The incident occurred on April 6, 2026, when the suspect reportedly poured a transparent liquid on the stone, leaving a stain about 1-2 cm wide [5]. Analysis found the substance contained glycerin, commonly used in cosmetics and beauty products [5]. The suspect left Japan the following day and returned in August, when Japanese police detained her using surveillance footage [1, 5, 6].

The arrested woman shares the exact name, age, and Taiwanese nationality with actress Cai Yizhen, also known as Wuxiong (Five Bear), fueling speculation in Taiwanese media and on social platforms [1, 2, 3, 8, 4, 5, 6]. Cai Yizhen’s agency confirmed she is under investigation by Japanese authorities but declined to confirm details, asking for respect for the legal process [6, 7].

The suspect told police she poured oil as a form of prayer when moved emotionally and denied intent to damage the cultural artifact [1, 2, 4, 5]. Some netizens connected her to the New Life Church, a Pentecostal Christian group she belongs to, speculating the act was a religious ritual involving anointing or symbolic cleansing [1, 2, 4, 5].

Cai Yizhen’s older sister, actress Cai Hanchen, said she only learned about the incident from news reports and is still trying to understand the situation [9, 10, 11, 12, 5]. Following the news, Cai's social media accounts were flooded with criticism, and controversy may affect her endorsement deals. A brand responded to sarcastic comments about a product she endorses by saying, "Hello, yes we can, thank you" [8].

The next development will depend on ongoing Japanese investigations. Cai Yizhen’s agency on August 24 urged patience and privacy during the inquiry [6, 7].