Chinese National, 44, Who Heads Scrap Metal Firm Arrested Over Buying Stolen Copper Cable for ¥1.42 Million
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.
A joint investigation team from Ibaraki Prefectural Police's Joso Station and Nagano Prefectural Police announced on October 15, 2026 that they had arrested the 44-year-old Chinese national who serves as representative director of Himawari Shoji, a scrap metal buying company in Kamisato, Saitama Prefecture, on suspicion of receiving stolen goods for payment and violating the Act on Punishment of Organized Crime through receipt of criminal proceeds. According to the Ibaraki Shimbun and other outlets, the man is accused of buying six stolen copper cables, worth a combined 3 million yen, for a total of 1,425,600 yen on the grounds of the company's office on November 20, 2025, knowing them to be stolen.
In July 2026, police had indicted two Cambodian nationals for theft over cables taken from a solar power plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, and the company emerged as the destination for the stolen metal. Police planned to refer the company itself to prosecutors on October 16 on suspicion of violating the Act on Punishment of Organized Crime. The man has reportedly denied the allegations, and police are investigating whether he purchased other stolen goods.
Current status: The number of additional offenses, where the purchased metal was subsequently sold, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Thefts of copper cable targeting solar power facilities have occurred repeatedly across Japan, and this site has reported on cases in which buyers were also arrested. Related coverage
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.