Vandals carve graffiti on Tottori sand dunes

Wednesday 03rd June, 05:16 AM JST

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Nessie at 09:52 AM JST - 3rd June

How do you carve a dune? Oh, "Kyodo". Never mind.
Richard_III at 12:11 PM JST - 3rd June

I was very touched to see that Masahiro loves Kaori when I last visited Tottori's sand dunes.
soldave at 12:33 PM JST - 3rd June

Nessie - Quite. Can sand be carved? It can with Kyodo!
Yelnats at 02:25 PM JST - 3rd June

I rolled down those sand dunes many years ago. Was a blast, but got dizzy and then sick.
dennis0bauer at 03:07 PM JST - 3rd June

what if a kid builts a sandcastle is that also vandalizing?
Azrael at 04:29 PM JST - 3rd June

What is so special about Tottori sand dunes? I have googled the site and it's just an expanse of sand like any other desert of vast beach. The Sahara has more sand, obviously and it's just called sand, not "unique sand." Plus why is making marks on the sand a problem, is there no wind there? Doesn't the sand naturally settle due to slopes, wind and its own weight? When I read "graffiti" I thought people had sprayed the sand with spray paint! "Carve" does not seem appropriate, unless the dunes are rigid for some reason - but in the articles I read there is no mention of any hardness about the sand. I read it rains there - isn't that enough to wash off the markings visitors make on the sand? I read there's camel tours (camels in Japan?!) for a price. Their feet leave marks now, don't they? What is so special about this expanse of sand?
Azrael at 04:30 PM JST - 3rd June

*desert OR vast beach.

Sorry about the typo.
knackerz at 04:31 PM JST - 3rd June

This is just another sign that Japan is quickly sliding into a state of anarchy.
stirfry at 06:08 PM JST - 3rd June

at least they're defacing their own country finally, instead of italian statues
buggerlugs at 08:04 PM JST - 3rd June

So I guess "dune racing" is a big NO NO! or just a dame dame...
Fadamor at 03:17 AM JST - 4th June

Got a sneaking suspicion that the graffiti they're objecting to is the more obscene type.
Mark_McCracken at 03:28 AM JST - 4th June

This article would make more sense if it was rewritten as follows, "Despite an ordinance that took effect April 12 against drawing patterns on the pristine Tottori sand dunes, 67 drawings have been found...Some visitors in recent years have drawn giant pornographic patterns in the sand, posing a constant headache for the local tourist industry."

I'm not sure if that is actually what has happened, of course, because Kyodo's article is confusing at best, but based on the comments here, it seems likely.
bushlover at 05:44 AM JST - 4th June

So mother nature doesn't take care of the carvings like it does footprints?
bcbrownboy at 06:30 AM JST - 4th June

teacup tempest
Stonecoldsoba at 01:24 PM JST - 4th June

Azrael:

What is so special about Tottori sand dunes?

It's Japanese sand. Japanese sand is unique.