On May 28, it was found that the black curtain installed by the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, in front of the convenience store, Lawson had around 10 holes in it.
The black curtain was put up in response to the flood of foreign tourists who came to take photos of Mt. Fuji, which can be seen over the roof of the shop, affecting the local residents and causing traffic hazards. Security guards are deployed at the site from 10am to 4pm with the aim of preventing tourists from crossing or staying on the road. It is believed that nothing happened during the hours when the security guards were on the site, but during the hours when they were not, a hole was punched in the black curtain.
According to the town, the hole was first found shortly after 6pm on May 22. A neighbor reported to the police that someone was making a hole in the curtain. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found that a foreigner had poked a hole in it with his finger and was taking photos with his smartphone. The police officer took the foreigner to a nearby police box, confirmed that he had not spread the image, made him erase the photo in front of the police officer and told him that the act of punching holes in the curtain was a criminal offense and only cautioned him at that time.
The police informed the town that the foreigner had been warned. Town officials then visited the scene and confirmed that three holes had been drilled in the curtain, and repaired.
The black curtain is made of material that can be easily punctured by a finger. The town said that nothing happened while the guards were on site, but it seems that holes were made while they were not there, and that as of 1pm on May 28, it was confirmed that around 10 holes had been made.
The town plans to take action to prevent damage to the curtain, such as putting up flyers with a QR code to guide people about where they can take photos Mt. Fuji from other locations.
