TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A tourist believed to be from China dismantled a "Taiwan Daruma" display (a good luck display) at Katsuo-ji Temple (勝尾寺) in Osaka Sunday (Nov. 30), sparking outrage among Taiwanese visitors. The woman entered a restricted area and destroyed Taiwan-shaped arrangements despite her husband's objections. Witnesses reported the woman returned to the site for further disruption after initially leaving.
Katsuo-ji Temple (勝尾寺) in Osaka is famous for its "Victory Daruma" (必勝達摩) displays, where Taiwanese tourists frequently create Taiwan-shaped patterns and "TW" arrangements. A Taiwanese tourist witnessed the incident around 2 p.m. Sunday as the woman crossed barriers to destroy the displays. The woman returned for additional disruption despite her husband urging her to report concerns through proper channels instead.
The incident gained widespread attention on Threads, Meta's social media platform, where users criticized the woman's actions and questioned visitor behavior. Users emphasized the spiritual significance of Daruma figures as symbols of prayer and wishes rather than mere decorations. One commenter noted observing many Chinese tourists at the temple despite reported travel restrictions.
Online commenters warned that interfering with others' Daruma figures brings bad luck according to traditional beliefs. The incident prompted calls for visitors to help restore the damaged displays after reports surfaced of additional tourists damaging the site. Community members urged visitors to respect the cultural and spiritual significance of the temple's Daruma arrangements. ◼