Japanese police investigate possible damage to Buddha’s Footprint Stone

Police in Japan are investigating possible damage to a sacred cultural artefact at Yakushiji Temple in Nara Prefecture after unusual stains were discovered on the Buddha’s Footprint Stone, a nationally designated treasure.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, temple staff noticed four dark spots, each around 1–2 centimetres in size, on the surface of the stone. The composition of the stains remains unknown, and no odour has been detected.

Initially, officials believed the marks might be caused by water, but the stains did not evaporate, raising concerns of potential contamination or deliberate damage. The temple subsequently alerted police, who have launched an investigation into a possible violation of Japan’s cultural property protection laws.

The Buddha’s footprint stone at Yakushiji Temple is an important religious artefact engraved with a symbolic imprint representing the footsteps of Shakyamuni Buddha.