Australian Tourist Sparks Outrage Drinking Burial Offering Japan

Australian tourist and Instagram influencer Lochie Jones sparked outrage in Japan after posting a video of himself drinking a canned offering left on a grave, a gesture considered deeply offensive in Japanese culture. The video, filmed at Aokigahara forest near Mt. Fuji, also showed Jones flipping a coin to decide whether to drink the beverage and burping in front of the grave, further angering viewers. Jones later apologized for his actions in an Instagram video. The Australian embassy in Japan issued a warning urging travelers to behave appropriately and emphasized cooperation with Japanese authorities to ensure respect for local laws and customs. This incident is part of a broader pattern of controversial behavior by foreign visitors in Japan, including a well-known YouTuber free-riding on trains and a U.S. livestreamer arrested for trespassing and harassing locals. Japanese police are investigating Jones's actions amid growing concerns over overtourism and cultural insensitivity by tourists.