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Man held after entering Japan emperor’s residence: media
TOKYO, Jan 3, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – A 29-year-old man has been arrested after
allegedly breaking into the Tokyo residence of Emperor Naruhito, where he
reportedly spent two hours before being discovered, local media said Sunday.
The man, who has not been named, entered the usually heavily guarded
Akasaka residential complex for imperial family members through the adjacent
guesthouse on Saturday night, Fuji News Network (FNN) said.
He was caught by the Imperial Guard near the residence of Princess Yuriko,
the great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, about two hours after he broke in, the
broadcaster said, quoting police officials.
FNN said the man had gained access via the entrance gate of the
guesthouse, which was not guarded at the time.
The break-in was also reported by TBS news, which said the suspect had
told police: “I wanted to meet members of the imperial family.”
There were no details on whether the man had encountered any royals, but
local media said no one was injured in the incident.
Local police declined to comment and the Imperial Household Agency did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.
Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, after his father
abdicated.
He and his wife Empress Masako delivered the traditional New Year’s
greeting on Friday by video message for the first time, after their usual
appearance was cancelled to avoid crowds gathering as the country battles a
third wave of coronavirus.
The incident is not the first time intruders have breached palace
security.
In May 2020, a Japanese man was arrested after swimming across the
Imperial Palace’s moat to scale an outer wall and enter off-limits parts of
the grounds.
And in years past, both Japanese and foreigners have been held after
swimming across the moat, including a Brit who did so naked.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1316 hrs