Taiwanese actor apologizes over Japan national treasure vandalism

TAIPEI - A Taiwanese actor and TV host who was summarily indicted earlier this week over the defacement of a treasured stone monument at a western Japan temple apologized on Thursday, expressing deep remorse for causing trouble and harm to the local community.

Tsai Yi-chen, 39, wrote a Facebook post in both Chinese and Japanese in which she described her actions at Yakushiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nara Prefecture, as stemming from "ignorance." She also expressed her "deepest and most sincere apologies to everyone in Japan."