Vietnamese Man, 46, Arrested on Suspicion of Overstaying About a Year and a Half in Shizuoka
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.
Shizuoka Chuo Police Station of the Shizuoka Prefectural Police arrested a 46-year-old Vietnamese national, a part-time worker of no fixed address, on September 28, 2026 on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act through illegal overstay. According to the Shizuoka Shimbun's At-S, the man's permitted period of stay expired on March 5, 2025, but he allegedly remained in Japan afterward and stayed illegally until September 27, 2026 — a period of roughly a year and a half.
Under questioning, the man has reportedly admitted to the allegation. He is said to have been working as a part-time employee while in illegal residency status, though his place of employment and how he sustained himself after his period of stay expired have not been disclosed.
Current status: What prompted the discovery, whether his employer will be investigated on suspicion of facilitating illegal employment, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
On illegal overstays, ten Vietnamese and Chinese men were arrested in Kato, Hyogo Prefecture in September 2026 on suspicion of long-term illegal residence. Related article
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.