Police on Wednesday released a British tourist who shocked onlookers by swimming naked in the moat of Japan's Imperial Palace, concluding he had mental problems.
The bald, heavy-set and visibly agitated man was chased by officers around the palace for two hours on Tuesday. He dived into the moat then pelted them with stones.
"We decided to hand the man over to his friend without charging him as we concluded that his act was based on mental instability," a police spokesman said.
Bystanders snapped photos of the 40-year-old, whose antics were one of the top stories on Japanese television.
A British embassy spokesman confirmed the man was British and said he received consular assistance but declined further details, citing privacy issues. Media reports said the man lived in Spain.
© Wire reports
47 Comments
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NeoJamal
in other words he was just an ordinary pom on holiday who thought he was on some Mediterranean island.
nath
I still hope the Emperor got a chuckle out of this guy.
nath
It goes without saying I regret his (the Brits/spaniards) mental condition. Good on Japan for letting him go. Great he didn't get any one with a brick eh?
Sarge
What's the looney's name?
rjd_jr
Well so much for those who incessantly complain about how the J cops and society "have it in for the foreigner." Yet again we have a foreigner who not only disgraced himself and his countrymen but also breached a sacred area, face no punishment whatsoever for his stupidity. In any other country this man would have been manhandled by a few dozen security personnel (especially in this day and age of terrorism).
Dogdog
The sad fact of cheaper tourism is that one has to go to even further parts of the world to live off the facade of England being a land of gentlemen, rather than the reality, a land of drunken aggressive arrogant yobs.
Mars here I come.....
some14some
Mental instability? Is he CEO of any financial institute?
VOR
No society is exempt from fellow countrymen behaving badly.
What an embarrassment.
Schoolboyerror
So you missed the part about him being mentally sick.
romulus3
I say, what a bunch of prudes what! a bit of meat and vege and the world goes crazy.
Quirinus3
Quirinus agrees with romulus- i thought it was rather funny watching the chap on TV.
Why are there so many prudes these days?
Dogdog
Great video on Youtube
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3359171073568901693&ei=kUbtSJSTLIqCwgOZgbWiCw&q=British+Man+Tokyo&vt=lf
serindipity
He was released without a charge? Unbelievable!
borscht
Just because the Japanese police determined he was out of his gourd doesn't mean he is out of his gourd. It could be a) he really is nuts b) the police wanted him off their hands as quickly as possible c) someone discovered there's no law against swimming in the emperor's moat d) he acted like a looney hoping the police would send him home rather than arrest him.
tkoind2
I'm reminded of Python's "Spot the Looney". With all the bad news out there, this guy may have lifted a lot of spirits this week. I say we give him an award for best tension breaker of 2008.
CavemanLawyer
Well put romulus. Some of these people would try to stick a fig leaf on the statue of David, or pass out from moral outrage if they got too near it. --Cirroc
thepro
Wow, amazed they didn't charge him. I'm gonna act as nuts as possible if I ever get arrested.
greensatindress
like I said on the other board, thank god it wasn't an American for once
ronaldk
I would like to thank this man for providing a greatly needed respite from the bad economic news. I and may friends laughed heartily yesterday thanks to him. Lighten up.
neverknow2
Very bad for the already damaged reputation of foreigners in Japan. No wonder they stop us every single time they see us riding a bike.
bamboohat
Ok, this is how it really went down. The dude lost a bet. The guy said he could convince the cops that they were keeping prince albert in a can. The bet was, if he could they'd take him drinking. If he couldn't he'd have to swim in the moat, naked. As soon as he jumped in the moat, whatever remaining buzz from the previous night wore off, and he suddenly realized what a predicament he was in. Suddenly he heard a heavenly voice of advice from yet another leftover hallucination: "act like homer simpson and they'll let you go, act like homer simpson and they'll let you go...."
The moral of the story? Always listen to your hallucinations, and everything will work out okey dokey.
meanmutha
I could see us Yanks doing the same thing with a nutcase Japanese after a streak and a freak.. shouting Japanese and crying... Call his Embassy, put him back out on the street until he does worse. Im shocked they didnt bring this guy to his gate and escorted to his seat on the plane...
TPOJ
Well so much for those who incessantly complain about how the J cops and society "have it in for the foreigner." Yet again we have a foreigner who not only disgraced himself and his countrymen but also breached a sacred area, face no punishment whatsoever for his stupidity.
Four words: the media was watching.
xpompey8
LOL...the video on Youtube was hilarious! I'm sure the koban are keeping a watchful eye on all bald and heavy-set foreign men!
seesaw
Joke of the year....lol
nath
TPOJ
I am sorry, but that body of water is closer to a cesspool, and in my opinion is not sacred. And I doubt that the law treats it as sacred either. Besides, it stinks – literally. Of course he should not have swum in it – but more for his own health and safety.
romulus3
This video is good. Its under the caption "British Ninja Fails Mission"
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=GTI5NP8XABs
Mz
I thought the whole thing was hilarious and (as someone wrote earlier) a welcome relief from all the bad news recently.... Am a bit baffled though as to "being released...mental instability". If he is mentally instable should he not be getting care?
memyselfI
I don't want to be on the same airplane with that guy !!!!
WilliB
Lucky guy. I thought they´d put him on a plane home.
boonme
While I thought the video was funny I'm left wondering how this guy got let off so easily.
Video shows Baldie trying to hit the police with a plastic pole. He was swinging away with some force. That is assault in any ones books.
Now if you get into a fight with a J-cop and get arrested be prepared to spend several weeks in jail.
This guy is one lucky mother ......
Todd Cooper
There was nothing "skinny" about that dipper.
tmarie
So he has mental issues and they release him to a friend? This is why there are so many crazy Japanese folks out and about. Get these people some help. I would have shipped him back to the UK.
Nippon5
Four words: the media was watching.
How true How true!!!!
If the media didnt film it he wouldnt be seeing daylight...
fatloser
I was amazed at his physical condition!! Despite his blubber he was quite-agile-graceful and energetic!! I hope Joe Weider signs him up!!
VoXman
Thanks to the Brits for taking the spotlight off the Yanks over here.
BBLeo
Isn't he lucky. Will any magazine run paid story on him? It did cross my mind that he must be short of few screws in his head. But a good mechanic in Spain could fix him up. Could he get visa again to visit Japan after his treatment with medical mechanic?
Nippon5
That wasnt a just a Brit, it was their superhero.... Mr Naked man...
Like a flash, able to swim in the dirtiest water, able to climb a stone wall in a few bounds, able to throw heavy rocks with ease... look in the water its Mr Naked Man
Last week Mr Naked man was taking on evil in the canals of Venice......
Dennis Bauer
After the police saw his "weapon" they laughed and let him go :p
sageb1
Schizophrenia: the loony's ticket to get out of jail free!
fatloser
It would have helped if the NPA had his friends try and communicate with him or calm him down. Maybe they tried to do it, but it didn't look that way. That's what they'd do if a Japanese had done the same think...tender words and sweet talk. But with a mighty Briton they hunt and hound and chase...beguile!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is funny how the western press is under the impression that the moat is a sacred place to "the Japanese"
Youdontknow
Good Jorb - seems to work for me when the cops question me for no reason. I just stand there repeating 'I like red marbles.' while rocking back and forth!
They probably didn't want to waste time with this guy, given that he is only a tourist and is likely to be leaving shortly. But I would have thought he might have been given a fine or something! Doubt he'll be getting a visa to come back anytime ever!
boonme
Youdontknow:
Visa?! He is gonna be welcome to stay in Japan a long time. Might even become a celebrity.
He is more entertaining than most of those monkeys on J-TV.
I'll bet this Ninja will have himself parked at a local eikaiwa in the next few weeks. He will probably fit right in as a model english teacher. The students won't even realize that he is off his trolley when he starts mouthing off. Probably think it is part of the lesson.
I would suggest that the Ueno Zoo employees him in the monkey cage. Or better yet let him make friends with that green polar bear. They both like chasing after little men in uniform, they both like swimming in nasty water and they both have enough blubber to make it comfortable through the winter together.
BlackFlag
you're all light and joy aren't you?
Betting
Mental instability? Give this guy some help then. I don't think putting this guy into his friend's custody will help him at all.
GeorgeRoper
I saw this on the box while i was babysitting for young Tristram next door. He said "look Mr Roper there's apiggy swimming in a moat"
Gawd, he made me laugh the little terror.