Ten Vietnamese, Chinese Men Arrested Over Illegal Overstay After About 20 Foreign Nationals Found Living in Single House in Hyogo
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 announced on September 16, 2026 that they had arrested ten men in their 20s and 30s — seven Vietnamese nationals and three Chinese nationals — on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control Act by illegally overstaying their visas. According to Kobe Shimbun NEXT, the ten are accused of remaining in Japan illegally for periods ranging from roughly seven months to seven years and five months after their residency status expired. They have reportedly admitted to the allegations under questioning.
The ten had been living in a two-story house in Mori, Kato City, where roughly 20 people were believed to be residing. A tip received in August 2026 raised suspicions of illegal residency, prompting an investigation by Hyogo Prefectural Police and other authorities. On the morning of September 16, roughly 130 officers were mobilized to take the suspects into custody. Ten additional men were also found at the house and were taken into custody by the immigration bureau.
Current status: The residency status of the ten men who were not arrested, the circumstances that brought the group together at the house, 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.