Two Vietnamese Men Living in Hokuriku Arrested for Robbery After Allegedly Slapping a Vietnamese Man and Taking His Smartphone in Aichi
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.
In October 2026, Aichi Prefectural Police arrested two Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of robbery: Tran Anh Tuan, 30, who lives in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Tran Cong Ngoc, 33, who lives in Toyama Prefecture. According to Chukyo TV News, the two are suspected of slapping a 27-year-old Vietnamese man in the face and taking his smartphone on a street in the Nagashino area of Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, on October 1, 2026.
The victim was not injured. The pair fled by car after the incident, but an analysis of security camera footage and other evidence pointed to their involvement, leading to the arrests. Police have not disclosed whether the two admit the allegations. Both the victim and the suspects are Vietnamese nationals, raising the possibility that the case stems from a dispute within the Vietnamese community in Japan, though no motive has been made public.
Current status: Whether the two knew the victim, their motive, their residence status, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Elsewhere in Aichi Prefecture, two Vietnamese men were arrested in October 2026 over burglaries spanning eight prefectures. 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.