Japanese Streamer Investigated After Stunt at Historic Site
Listen to the story
A Japanese livestreamer known as Ainosuke is under investigation after a controversial stunt at a well-known historical site in Tokyo called Masakado-zuka.
Masakado-zuka is a stone monument that many people in Japan consider sacred. It is linked to old legends and beliefs, and locals treat it with respect.
During a live broadcast, Ainosuke climbed onto the stone monument and shouted strange noises. He then exposed his lower body, an act known in Japan as public indecency, which is a criminal offense.
Police have opened a case against him, but he is currently under what is called 'zaitaku sōsa,' meaning he is being investigated while staying at home rather than being arrested.
On his livestreaming platform, Niconama, Ainosuke seemed pleased about the situation. He commented that he had finally 'earned' a public indecency charge, comparing it to other well-known streamers.
Online commenters noted that heavy rain and an earthquake occurred shortly after the broadcast. Some people jokingly suggested this was a 'curse,' referring to old stories about bad luck connected to the monument.
A commentator known as Kanae-sensei, who makes videos about criminology, discussed the case. She explained why so-called 'nuisance streamers'—people who do disruptive or shocking acts for online attention—continue to appear despite legal consequences.
Kanae-sensei suggested that the desire for online fame, combined with weak deterrents, creates a repeating pattern of this kind of behavior among certain streamers in Japan.
Vocabulary10 words
- livestreamer
- a person who shows videos live on the internet
- public indecency
- showing private body parts in public; a crime in many places
- zaitaku sōsa
- a Japanese term meaning police investigate someone while they stay at home, not in jail
- earthquake
- a sudden shaking of the ground
- curse
- bad luck people believe comes from breaking a rule or offending something sacred
- criminology
- the study of crime and why people commit it
- nuisance streamer
- someone who does annoying or shocking things online just to get views
- sacred
- treated as very special or holy by people
- stunt
- a risky or attention-seeking act done for show
- deterrent
- something that stops people from doing a bad action
Quiz
Answer key
1. He climbed the monument and exposed himself while streaming 2. He is being investigated while staying at home 3. Because of a mix of desire for fame and weak deterrents
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A Japanese _____ known as Ainosuke is under investigation after a stunt at Masakado-zuka.
Masakado-zuka is a stone monument that many people consider _____.
He climbed onto the stone and then exposed his lower body, known as public _____.
He is currently under '_____,' meaning he stays home during the investigation.
On Niconama, Ainosuke seemed _____ about the situation.
He compared his charge to other well-known _____.
Online users noted heavy rain and an _____ after the broadcast.
Some people jokingly suggested this was a _____ from the monument.
A commentator called Kanae-sensei discussed why '_____ streamers' keep appearing.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think some streamers do risky or shocking acts to attract attention?
- Do you think 'zaitaku sōsa' (home investigation) is a fair way to handle this case? Why or why not?
- Why might people believe a place like Masakado-zuka is cursed?
- What responsibilities do you think livestreaming platforms have for content like this?