A prominent member of the yakuza was apprehended in Japan on charges of burglary and theft of Pokemon cards.
On April 29, it was announced by the Tachikawa Precinct of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police that Keita Saito, an accounting executive from the Sumiyoshi-kai, one of Japan’s biggest organized crime groups, had been arrested.
The arrest was made in relation to a theft that occurred on December 29, 2022, where a total of 29 items were reportedly stolen, amounting to a value of 252,000 yen ($1,625). However, it was the 25 Pokemon cards that caught the attention, as they were allegedly taken by a 39-year-old member of the yakuza.
It was surprising to many as it challenged the yakuza’s typical reputation for committing more serious crimes, often portrayed in a glamorous light in movies and video games. One person remarked, “Even the yakuza are interested in Pokémon,”while another joked, “Instead of trying to catch them all, he ended up getting caught himself.”
On the contrary, another individual argued, “Considering the yakuza’s involvement with game booths at festivals, where they exploit children for their allowance money, it’s no surprise to see them engaging in similar behavior.”
Following Saito’s confession to the crime, authorities in Tokyo have revealed that he was not acting alone. Hidefumi Kuboshita was arrested on suspicion of masterminding the robbery, however he has vehemently denied any involvement.
Additionally, it is suspected that two more individuals were recruited through online means and are also involved in the theft of the Pokemon cards.
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