Rome, 14 October (AKI) - Italian police charged a man with on-the-job violence and extortion after a 'Roman Gladiator' on Wednesday attacked a Japanese tourist after taking a souvenir photo. After soliciting the 23 year-old Japanese tourist, the 43 year-old gladiator took a souvenir photo and asked the tourist for an 'inflated' 20 euro tip.

The Japanese tourist refused to pay the man and the gladiator then allegedly assaulted him. The tourist asked police for help who quickly intervened.

The incident is the latest scam against Japanese tourists in Rome, after two Japanese couples were charged between 400 and 700 euros for a simple meal at a restaurant located in the centre of the Italian capital in July.

News of the first Japanese couple was widely reported by Japanese newspapers and television, prompting many Japanese tourists on vacation in Italy to report other complaints to police, including inflated taxi fares.

In July 2009, Italy's national tourism agency, ENIT reported that the number of Japanese tourists in Italy slumped from 2.2 million in 1997 to only 1.47 million in 2007, while only one million Japanese would set foot on Italian soil this year, ENIT has forecast.

Besides the hefty restaurant and taxi bills received by Japanese tourists there is also resentment in Japan at poor service in Italian hotels.