Vietnamese National, 28, Re-Arrested Over Unlicensed Butchering and Sale of Wild Boar Meat in Aichi Poaching Case
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.
Aichi Prefectural Police announced on October 14, 2026 that they had re-arrested Phan Van Dao, 28, a Vietnamese national, on suspicion of violating the Food Sanitation Act. According to Chukyo TV News, he is accused of conspiring with others to butcher two wild boars and operate a meat processing business without a license from the public health center, during 2025 and 2026.
The case began on July 15, 2026, when an officer from a local residential police post found a sika deer caught in a snare trap in dense brush behind a cemetery in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture. Deer heads had been found repeatedly in Kasugai City since around late June that year, and the officer judged the case to be poaching after determining that the cuts to the necks had been made with a blade. Japan's hunting season runs from November 15 to February 15, so setting traps in summer is itself illegal. The suspect was arrested in September on suspicion of violating the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Act by illegally capturing a sika deer.
Under questioning, the suspect reportedly said there was no doubt he had sold the meat but that he had not known a license was required, denying the allegation. Police believe he repeatedly sold poached wild animals as meat without a license and are continuing to investigate. So-called "illegal game meat" obtained outside regulated channels carries a high risk of food poisoning, and Aichi Prefecture has urged the public not to buy game meat sold by individuals through social media and similar channels.
Current status: The identity of the alleged co-conspirators, who the meat was sold to, 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.