
If you don’t trust your friends with your valuables, this story might bolster your paranoia: two 20-year-old salary men were arrested yesterday in Kōbe for stealing a 15-year-old kid’s Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.
The alleged thieves visited their friend on February 18 and finding he wasn’t there, they made off with his card collection. They are suspected of stealing the cards for resale — the 320 cards have an estimated worth of 70,000 yen (~US$685).
The event is just one in a list of adults stealing anime, manga, and video game-related merchandise. A 32-year-old male construction worker pilfered a Nintendo 3DS system from a grade schooler in April, a Saitama police officer stole his coworker’s anime DVDs, and a man and two teens made off with a Dragon Ball Z vending machine in 2008.
Source: Kōbe Shinbun NEXT; Image from Chibi22
More from Anime News Network

Tokyo police arrest two men for theft of 4.98 million-yen Yu-Gi-Oh! card
Man climbs down side of building in Tokyo to steal…a bunch of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards
Otaku crime: Kyoto police arrest man for selling counterfeit ultra-rare Yu-Gi-Oh! card
Real-life heart of the cards? Amazing Yu-Gi-Oh! hand floats up to man in Japanese river【Pics】
Foreign residents of Japan prohibited from participating in Yu-Gi-Oh Japan Championship
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
This is possibly the coziest train in all Japan thanks to onboard hot spring footbaths【Pics】
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
We try five menu recommendations from a clerk at CoCo Ichibanya and almost fall in love
Japanese curry chain in Thailand has a surprisingly Japanese dish not found in Japan
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Design-your-own-Pokémon-T-shirt service launches at Uniqlo, dozens of species to work with【Pics】
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Ultra-rare Yu-Gi-Oh! card goes on sale in Tokyo’s Akihabara for 45 million yen
How much would it cost to recreate Yugi’s Yu-Gi-Oh! deck?
Chinese criminal’s Yu-Gi-Oh card reaches astronomical price before auction is shut down
Yu-Gi-Oh card bath towels in Japan keep duelists’ backs dry, if they have the skill to obtain one
Every Yu-Gi-Oh! card ever, all in one place at awesome Tokyo train station display 【Photos】
Yu-Gi-Oh! collector parts with ultra-rare cards worth more than $5,000 each, for his daughter
Japanese police face criticism for improper handling of stolen Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards【Video】
Crows in Japan spotted playing with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, may have exploitable bias in deck-building
Wife takes revenge on cheating husband by auctioning his Yu-Gi-Oh! collection for millions of yen
Believe in the nap of the cards with the crazy Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Disk Nap Pillow【Photos】
Yu-Gi-Oh! brings anime battles into real-life with amazing fan-made dueling arena【Video】
Yu-Gi-Oh! creator’s dead body found floating in ocean off coast of Okinawa
Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium Puzzle wristwatch/pendant will help anime fans keep track of time in style
Real Life Yu-Gi-Oh! augmented reality prototype aims to make your duels as cool as the anime’s
You can eat the Yu-Gi-Oh burger that ate you at Coco’s Japan【Photos】
Leave a Reply