Taiwanese actress Bernice Tsai Yi-chen, who uses the stage name Wu Xiong and is best known for starring in the KO One franchise, was reportedly arrested in Japan for allegedly pouring oil onto the “Buddha Footprint Stone” at Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Japan before leaving the country and returning to Taiwan.
According to Japanese media, the incident occurred on April 6, 2026. Police later detected glycerin, commonly found in products such as facial toners and beauty serum, in the liquid. After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators identified a woman, surnamed Tsai and age 39 as a suspect. On August 22, she re-entered Japan and was arrested by police at the airport for an alleged violation of Japan’s Cultural Properties Protection Law. The suspect’s name, age and occupation as a host reportedly match that of Taiwanese celebrity Wu Xiong who had indeed gone to Japan.
The woman reportedly told investigators that she had no intention of damaging cultural property and that she sometimes pours oil over things that move her emotionally as a form of prayer. Wu Xiong’s older sister, Emily Tsai Han-tsen, also responded, saying, “I only learned about this after seeing the news. I am still trying to understand the situation.”
August 23 also happened to be Wu Xiong’s birthday, prompting some netizens to make sarcastic comments about the timing of her reported arrest. While the woman’s identity remains unconfirmed, netizens have left comments criticizing the actress and calling for strict punishment and even a permanent ban from entering Japan.
Photos: bernice0222 / Instagram
