We report measurements of differential cross sections and decay asymmetries of incoherent $phi$-meson photoproduction from the deuteron at forward angles using linearly polarized photons at Eg=1.5-2.4 GeV. The nuclear transparency ratio for the deuteron shows a large suppression, and is consistent with the A-dependence of the ratio observed in a previous measurement with nuclear targets. The reduction for the deuteron cannot be adequately explained in term of isospin asymmetry. The present results suggest the need of refining our understanding of the $phi$-N interaction within a nucleus.
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