Japanese Streamer Investigated After Stunt at Historic Site
Listen to the story
A Japanese livestreamer who goes by the name Ainosuke is under police investigation following a controversial broadcast at Masakado-zuka, a stone monument in Tokyo regarded by many as a historically and spiritually significant site.
According to reports, Ainosuke climbed onto the monument during a live broadcast, shouted unusual noises, and then exposed his lower body—an act classified under Japanese law as public indecency. The broadcast was streamed on the platform Niconama.
Rather than being formally arrested, Ainosuke is reportedly undergoing what is known in Japan as 'zaitaku sōsa,' a process in which a suspect is investigated while remaining at home, rather than being taken into custody.
In a striking reaction, Ainosuke appeared to celebrate the development on his stream, remarking that he had 'finally' been charged with public indecency, seemingly framing it as a milestone shared by other prominent internet personalities.
The stunt drew additional attention online after reports emerged of heavy rain and an earthquake shortly after the broadcast. Some social media users speculated—apparently in jest—that the events were connected to a 'curse' tied to old legends surrounding the monument, which is traditionally treated with reverence.
The incident has also prompted broader discussion about so-called 'nuisance streamers,' a term used to describe online personalities who engage in disruptive, offensive, or illegal behavior in pursuit of viewership and notoriety.
Commenting on the case, a YouTuber known as Kanae-sensei, who focuses on criminology content, offered an explanation for why such behavior persists despite potential legal consequences. She pointed to structural factors, including the incentives created by online attention economies and the comparatively limited deterrent effect of current penalties, as reasons this pattern continues among certain streamers in Japan.
While the exact legal outcome for Ainosuke remains uncertain, the case has reignited debate over how platforms and authorities should respond to increasingly extreme stunts performed for online audiences, particularly when they involve sites considered culturally or spiritually significant.
Vocabulary8 words
- livestreamer
- a person who broadcasts video live over the internet
- public indecency
- exposing private body parts in public; a criminal offense
- zaitaku sōsa
- a Japanese process where a suspect is investigated while staying at home, not arrested
- earthquake
- a sudden strong shaking of the ground
- curse
- believed bad luck caused by disrespecting something sacred
- nuisance streamer
- an online broadcaster who does harmful or shocking acts for attention
- criminology
- the academic study of crime and criminal behavior
- deterrent
- something meant to discourage people from doing something wrong
Quiz
Answer key
1. Climbing a monument and exposing himself during a livestream 2. He is being investigated while remaining at home 3. Attention incentives combined with weak deterrents
Discussion questions
- What ethical responsibilities do streamers have when broadcasting at culturally significant sites?
- How might platforms like Niconama address 'nuisance streamer' behavior more effectively?
- Do you think public reactions, like linking natural events to a 'curse,' influence how such cases are perceived?
- What kind of legal or social deterrents might be more effective in discouraging this type of behavior?