Photo/Illutration Deer in Nara Park are designated as a national natural monument. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Sanae Takaichi, a candidate for the ruling party’s presidency, said she confirmed her claim that foreign tourists have kicked deer at Nara Park, although local officials say they have no reports of such violence.

Takaichi, 64, a former minister of economic security, made the deer-abuse allegation in a speech at the Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters on Sept. 22, when the official campaign started for the party’s leadership election.

During a candidates’ debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on Sept. 24, Takaichi was asked to provide evidence that deer had been kicked by foreigners.

Takaichi responded, “I confirmed it in my own way.”

But she did not provide details of the animal abuse or how she confirmed the supposed incident.

A Nara prefectural government official said there have been no direct reports of violence against deer from staff on daily patrols, members of the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation or Nara Park visitors.

“As far as the prefecture and related organizations are aware, no acts of violence against the deer, such as hitting or kicking them, have been confirmed,” an official said.

The deer in Nara Park are designated as a national natural monument, and anyone who has harmed them can be charged with violating the cultural assets preservation law.

Nara prefectural police said they received a report last year from a witness who apparently told off someone who was kicking a deer at the park.

Around July last year, a video on social media showed someone kicking and hitting deer apparently in Nara Park.

After the video went viral, Nara authorities came under public pressure to take stronger countermeasures to prevent violence against the animals.

The prefectural government and police urged people to refrain from hurting the deer, and warnings were directed at tourists in English and Chinese.

Inappropriate behavior, such as throwing crackers at the deer or chasing them away, has been observed. However, the viral video and the witness report of Nara deer being kicked have not been verified.

Takaichi’s initial comment about deer being kicked came when she was outlining her policy to crack down on crimes and misbehavior by foreigners in Japan.

“As a woman from Nara, I cannot help but worry about the more than 1,460 deer living in Nara Park,” she said on Sept. 22. Some foreign tourists have been “kicking deer and trying to frighten them by hitting them, which is outrageous.”

She added: “If they come all the way from overseas to intentionally harm things that Japanese people cherish, something has gone too far.”

She also said some foreign visitors have played on shrine “torii” gates as if they were gymnastic bars.

On Sept. 24, after she said she confirmed the deer kicking incident, Takaichi added, “I also want to address the quietly growing sense of anxiety and anger that many Japanese people are starting to feel.”

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