Japanese Anime Fan Arrested After Canceling Naruto and One Piece Merchandise Orders Worth $2.7 Million

Tokyo constabulary person arrested a pistillate for obstructing the concern of anime institution Shueisha, aft she allegedly ordered — past canceled — much than 4.3 cardinal yen's worthy of Naruto and One Piece merchandise.

As reported by Japanese quality outlet Nippon TV News 24 and others, constabulary stated that the 32-year-old edifice worker had obstructed the concern of Shueisha's Jump Characters Store. The online store sells merchandise from fashionable bid including Demon Slayer, Bleach and My Hero Academia.

The accused reportedly placed implicit 2,000 orders connected the online storefront utilizing 238 antithetic fake accounts betwixt 2024 and 2025. She past cancelled the orders aft they were shipped but without paying. This added up to implicit 4.3 cardinal yen’s worthy of cancelled purchases (approximately $2.7 million).

According to Sankei Shimbun’s report, these were cash-on-delivery orders — inactive a communal outgo enactment for online stores successful Japan. This method allows you to wage thing erstwhile placing an order, past wage the transportation operator erstwhile the point arrives astatine your door.

However, the unnamed pistillate is accused of cancelling the orders, oregon leaving them to beryllium sent retired and near unclaimed. This reportedly led Shueisha to endure losses of astir 7.5 cardinal yen ($47,500), including shipping costs.

The accused has reportedly admitted to the charges, and said: "I emotion anime successful general, truthful placing these orders satisfied that desire.” She is besides quoted arsenic saying that these anime buying sprees provided alleviation from regular stress.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.