A bald, naked man, who said he was a British tourist, has gone swimming in the moat of Japan's Imperial Palace. Eyewitnesses said he managed to climb the palace wall, throwing rocks and splashing water at police before being taken into custody. Television footage showed the tall man getting out of the water at one point, chasing police with a rock and a plastic construction site pole. He then went back to the murky water and swam across to the other side of the moat, climbing up the eight-metre stone wall of the palace. He was caught by two policemen, after a chase which eyewitnesses said lasted for an hour-and-a-half. One witness said: "I've never heard of anyone doing such a thing. He must be a bit crazy."
皇居の堀で外国人男性泳ぐ＝観光客グループか－東京
10月7日13時57分配信 時事通信
7日午前11時20分ごろ、東京都千代田区皇居外苑の堀 に外国人男性が飛び込んだ。約1時間40分後、堀の石垣 から上がった自称スペイン人男性（40）を警視庁丸の内 署員らが確保した。同署が詳しい状況を調べている。
調べによると、男性が飛び込む直前、40－50代の男女計6人のスペイン人グループが近くの「和田倉門外交番」を訪れ、英語などで「バッグを堀に落とした。拾う道具を貸してほしい」などと相談。その間に、うち1人の男性が交番裏から堀に 飛び込んだ。
I don't think that Japanese police are allowed to use tasers--yet.Don't the Japanese police have access to the new taser guns? It is great for situations like that.
Uncle Frank
Frustrated when I see this because I know that while Japanese citizen's do the same crazy-*** crap, it doesn't bring the negativity on foreigners as it does when people out of country do it.
It's people like THIS man that makes me embarrased to live in Britain. I'm so glad I have an Irish Passport...
Don't the Japanese police have access to the new taser guns? It is great for situations like that.
Uncle Frank
I imagine the Japanese getting a huge laugh out of this, like on their TV shows where gaijin look like idiots
One amusing aspect of the case is that the Japanese police saw fit to tackle one obviously-less-than-capable middle aged naked man with no fewer than 50 officers.
Oh, please! Don't even start. "...no fewer than 50 officers"?? Did we watch the same tape? How could I miss all those police officers? It's pretty low the way you have phrased the above comment. "Japanese police saw fit to tackle one obviously-less-than-capable middle aged naked man"?? what are you trying to insinuate here? You DID see the man throw rocks at the officers, yes?
What I find interesting is that the man did not get charged. And Yes, the tape was very funny.
Naked Brit in Imperial Palace Moat
That's strange, I read in one of the Dutch papers that he is a Spaniard. Not British?
Anyhow, he must have suffered from a lack of attention.
...
As FrustratedDave points out, idiots like this person (although I think there's a high possibility of him being mentally ill) do affect the way the Japanese police and public regard foreigners. It doesn't excuse prejudice, it just provides a reason.
...
Mmnn, after re-reading my post I still don't think it was that offensive. Maybe some translation problem? I read about the 50 officers (admittedly on JapanToday) and found it amusing.
The fact that this guy wasn't charged or hurt (or tazered to oblivion...) is testament to some good policing... but if the report of around 50 officers arriving at the scene is accurate then I still find it amusing.
皇居のお濠で「大捕物」、外国人男性が裸で泳ぐ
(裸で皇居のお濠に入った外国人男性（左）＝安川純撮影)
７日午前１１時半ごろ、東京都千代田区の和田倉門付近の皇居のお濠(ほり)で、外国人の男が裸で泳いでいるのが見つかり、警視庁丸の内署がボートを出して男を追いかける"大捕物"があった。
同署員や消防隊員ら計５０人が出動。通行人ら約３００人が集まる中、男は、お濠を泳いだり、歩道に上がって同署員らに石を投げたりして逃走を続けたが、１時間半後、お濠の石垣によじ登っているところを署員に取り押さえられた。
同署幹部によると、男は自称４０歳のスペイン人で、同日午前１１時２０分ごろ、ほかの外国人５人とともに和田倉門にある交番に訪れ、英語で「バッグを落とした」と話していたが、その直後、突然、お濠に飛び込み、泳ぎながら服を脱いだという。同署で男から事情を聞いている。現場は、大企業の本社ビルが立ち並ぶオフィス街の一角。
（2008年10月7日14時25分 読売新聞）
The police regarded the man as being mentally ill, so they did not arrest him, but just protected and released him.
No excuse "Japan/Japanese/police had prejudice", please.
Here in Los Angeles, news reports referred him as a "naked Westerner."