
On 29 June, Nagano police were inundated with demands for an investigation after live footage broadcast over Japan’s Niconico Video showed a caged cat being left to drown in a river.
Warning: some readers may find the content of this report upsetting.
It’s reported that the suspect, one Fuyuki Hattori, admitted to charges of violating animal law, saying: “I only wanted to show how to exterminate these pests. I regret my rash action.”
By the way, according to police, this “rash action” was to set-up a trap outside his home prior to the morning of the 29th in which he captured a cat. He then rashly waited until the evening of that day to drive to the river. Finally, he rashly drove along the looking for a good spot to drown the defenseless animal because “it was too shallow everywhere.”
Once he had found a suitable location, he placed the cat into the water and begun videoing it on his smartphone, on which he had rashly set up a live feed through Niconico video ahead of time.
It was also suggested that the suspect’s rural background may have played a part in how he treated cats. That seems like utter BS, though, as any farm boy would know how to kill an animal as quickly and painlessly as possible rather than spend an entire day trying to slowly drown it.
Taking a moment to move away from how sick this guy allegedly is, let’s also celebrate his monumental alleged stupidity. What could the thought process have been to imagine that broadcasting the torture and murder of what is clearly the internet’s most beloved animal was not the worst idea?
Sadly, even if Hattori is found guilty, the punishment for this violation probably won’t be as strict as some would like. However, with the enemies he probably just made online, this man’s inboxes should be full of penis enlargement ads for a long time to come.
Source: J-Cast News, Yahoo! Japan News, Naver Matome (Japanese)
Video: YouTube –Tomo News Japan

Korean man arrested for boiling 600 cats alive, selling the meat for use in soup
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
New interactive Pokémon attraction coming to Universal Studios Japan
Japanese kindness restores our faith in humanity after a highway bus accident in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli’s truck from My Neighbour Totoro now available as die-cast Takara Tomy car
We visit the full-scale Evangelion statue in Kyoto and particularly delight in the food tie-ins
A Kyoto factory vending machine sells gourmet mystery meals at bargain prices
We buy oysters from a Japanese vending machine
The Almost All Lettuce Burger from Dom Dom Burger really lives up to its name
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Picturesque Tokyo park plays host to millions of flowers and soap bubbles this spring
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Totoro and Calcifer become little light-up lanterns for Ghibli-style excursions or at-home decor
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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