Video of Tourist Apparently Trying to Ride Deer in Nara Park Goes Viral; Officials Call It 'Highly Inappropriate'

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 5th) An incident of a tourist apparently attempting to ride a deer has recently surfaced in Nara Park, Japan. A video showing a woman sitting on a deer's back has gone viral on social media platforms, drawing criticism from netizens. The Nara Prefectural Government stated it is aware of the video and, while it is difficult to immediately determine a violation of the law based solely on the footage, it emphasized that the behavior is 'highly inappropriate.'

According to a report by J-CAST NEWS, the circulating video shows a woman wearing a spaghetti-strap sleeveless dress and high heels attempting to sit on a deer's back. The deer continuously moves its body and shakes its head, showing reluctance. A man can also be seen nearby filming with his smartphone.

Although the filming date is unknown, the video has been widely circulated on social media platform X since June, drawing criticism from netizens with comments such as 'This is animal abuse,' 'This really makes me angry,' and 'Don't ride the sacred deer.'

The wild deer herd, known as 'Nara deer,' is a Japanese National Natural Monument protected under the 'Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.' Following a previous incident where a tourist kicked a deer, the Nara Prefecture further strengthened regulations in April 2025.

According to the 'Nara Prefectural Urban Park Ordinance Enforcement Regulations,' causing harm to the National Natural Monument 'Nara deer' is prohibited. 'Harmful acts' are defined as 'violent acts that may cause physical injury to deer without justifiable reason, or other similar acts.'

A representative from the Nara Park Office of the Nara Prefectural Government stated that the prefecture is aware of the video content. Whether the act in the video constitutes a 'harmful act' prohibited by the ordinance requires judgment based on specific circumstances, and it is 'difficult to immediately conclude it as a harmful act' from the video alone. However, if the video content is accurate, 'it is undoubtedly a highly inappropriate act.'

The representative noted that while it is unclear whether the woman intended to harm the deer, 'the public should more fully understand that such behavior could cause harm to animals.'

He also reminded the public that direct contact with deer carries risks, including the possibility of being bumped or kicked by deer, as well as the risk of contracting Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a disease transmitted by ticks.

The representative stated, 'We have been urging the public to avoid direct contact with deer through awareness campaigns. Not to mention petting, attempting to sit on a deer is inappropriate behavior.' He added that patrols and awareness campaigns will continue to strengthen the safety of Nara deer and tourists. (Editor: Chen Chenggong) 1150605