Chinese National Assistant Professor at Kwansei Gakuin University, 36, Arrested on the Spot Over Alleged Shoplifting of Supplement at Kobe Drugstore
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Hyogo Prefectural Police's Tarumi Station announced on August 5, 2026 that it had arrested a Chinese national assistant professor employed at Kwansei Gakuin University, 36, on the spot on suspicion of theft. According to reports by Yomiuri Shimbun Online and the Kobe Shimbun, he is accused of putting a single nutritional supplement item, valued at approximately 6,400 yen, into his bag at a drugstore in Kobe's Tarumi Ward that same day. A store security guard witnessed the suspicious behavior, and the suspect was apprehended after leaving the store and handed over to responding officers.
Current status: Whether the suspect admits to the allegations and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.