Chinese Couple Re-Arrested Over Selling Bootleg "Snow Man" Concert DVDs in Mie Prefecture — Over 18,000 Pirated Discs Seized
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.
Mie Prefectural Police announced by August 25, 2026 that they had re-arrested Xiao Yi, 45, a Chinese national and company executive residing in Yokkaichi City, and his wife Zhang Yuan, 44, also a Chinese national, on suspicion of violating the Copyright Act. According to the Ise Shimbun, Nagoya TV and other outlets, the two are accused of selling illegally copied concert DVDs of the idol group Snow Man through a flea-market app around June 2026. Seized items reportedly also included bootleg concert DVDs of Arashi and Southern All Stars.
The pair had already been arrested on August 4 on the same charge over illegally copying and selling Studio Ghibli film DVDs; today's arrest stems from a subsequent investigation into additional offenses. More than 18,000 suspected pirated DVDs and Blu-rays were seized from their home and the husband's workplace. Police are investigating the possibility of organized involvement, believing the pair profited by selling the discs at less than half the standard retail price.
Current status: Whether the two have admitted to the allegations, whether the case will be referred for prosecution, and the extent of any organized involvement 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.