TOKYO — Tokyo Metropolitan Police final week arrested a person in his 50s for allegedly beginning a fireplace in the midst of the world-famous “Scramble Crossing” in entrance of JR Shibuya Station.
Based on social media posts, the suspect carried out the crime to garner consideration for a variety of conspiracy theories.
The unnamed suspect, a Japanese nationwide residing in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture was arrested on suspicion of obstructing visitors after turning himself in on the Shibuya Police Station roughly half-hour after the incident.
At round 9:00 p.m. on April 3, the person allegedly positioned a cardboard placard on the road, poured liquid from a plastic bottle, and set it on hearth earlier than fleeing the scene. The cardboard reportedly bore a handwritten political message claiming, “Japan has been almost taken over.”
Security digicam footage captured the suspect rigorously observing the world simply earlier than the crime. He appeared close to a guardrail holding the placard about two minutes previous to the incident.
Waiting patiently as throngs of pedestrians crossed the busy intersection, he lastly made his transfer when the pedestrian sign turned purple and the road cleared, moving into the middle of the highway to spark the blaze.
Upon questioning, the suspect totally admitted to the allegations. Police are at present investigating the precise sequence of occasions and the underlying motive behind the incident.
Social media
According to posts on social media, the suspect is Kaoru Suzuki, who lives in Nagoya.
A supporter of the ultra-conservative Sanseito Party, Suzuki claims to be a backup dancer for J-pop idol Namie Amuro and an teacher at hip-hop academy within the capital.
On X, his posts on the day of the incident present his preparation.
レンタカー借りれなかったから
ダンボールに変更しました pic.twitter.com/yV0pYq8fhA— nottorisosi4 (@nottorisosi4) April 3, 2026
“I couldn’t rent a car so I switched to cardboard boxes,” he wrote in a put up exhibiting the cardboard sheet.
In addition to a way of disaster relating to the “takeover of Japan,” Suzuki acknowledged that he was being subjected to organized harassment.
Suzuki carried out the incident because of a way of obligation.
“I cannot face the ancestors who sacrificed their lives to protect our country,” he wrote the day earlier than the incident. “But I will try my best, on Friday or Saturday.”
He additionally believes that X is limiting his feedback.
“I’m completely shadow banned,” he wrote on April 1. “I’ve been targeted. After posting about the Nanjing Massacre hoax or the Tongzhou Incident, and gang stalking, I stopped receiving any notifications at all.”