Otaku Culture

Woman arrested in Japan for stealing her boyfriend's figurine

Surprisingly, his plea for help referred to a missing anime figure, triggering a series of events.

In an unusual turn of events, a seemingly harmless anime figure has found himself in the spotlight in a theft case that has left the local community baffled.

Last weekend, the Hyogo Prefectural Police received an unexpected call from a distraught 31-year-old man residing in Himeji City. Surprisingly, his call for help concerned a missing anime figure, setting off a chain of events that culminated in his girlfriend's arrest.

The unidentified man called the police emergency number, 110, in a state of distress, exclaiming: “My figure has disappeared!” The unusual emergency call left police baffled as the figures are inanimate objects and are not capable of moving on their own.

Further investigation revealed that the man shared his living space not only with his 41-year-old girlfriend, a former co-worker, but also with a valuable collectible figurine from the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise.

In most cases, robberies like these can be attributed to relationship disputes or feelings of resentment. However, this particular incident took a different turn.

Police determined the girlfriend was the prime suspect in the case and arrested her on robbery charges. Contrary to the stereotype of a frustrated couple acting out against a 2D anime girl figure, The stolen item was not a provocative character, but rather the main character of Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game franchise, Sora.

The investigation revealed that the motivation behind the unusual robbery was not emotional discord between the couple, but rather financial stress. The unemployed girlfriend reportedly confessed to the crime, saying she sold the statuette to generate funds for “living expenses.” The term he used, “seikatsuhi,” encompasses both entertainment needs and expenses, suggesting a lack of financial planning on his part.

The stolen Sora figurine has both sentimental and monetary value to the victim, but its market value was estimated at only 4,000 yen. (approximately $29 USD). Kingdom Hearts merchandise ranges in price from low-cost items to exclusive collector's items. It appears that the bride's uninformed decision to steal and sell the figurine resulted from a lack of knowledge of its true value.

The incident sparked discussion in the anime and video game communities, with fans expressing surprise and amusement at the unusual nature of the case. As legal proceedings unfold, this incident serves as a peculiar reminder that even the most unlikely possessions can have significant meaning and value to their owners.

Source: Kobe Shimbun through the SoraNews24