Police arrested a 46-year-old man for writing graffiti at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2.

He likely went through baggage inspection as he entered the premises as a visitor to a New Year's greetings event.

According to the Imperial Guard, the gardener from Kanagawa Prefecture used a black felt tip pen to scribble on a fence near a bathroom.

Investigative sources said the suspect had in possession something that appears to be cannabis at the time of his arrest.

He has told the police that it is not cannabis, but investigators are checking the item that was submitted on a voluntary basis.

The bathroom is located along the route that visitors took to exit the palace after the event.