From Shoplifting to Fare Dodging—Trainspotter Group’s String of Crimes at the Osaka Expo

Shoplifting Ring Busted at Osaka–Kansai Expo

With less than two months remaining before the Osaka–Kansai Expo closes, police have uncovered a large-scale shoplifting case involving limited-edition merchandise.

On June 26, shortly after noon, three men—Yudai Hirahara (20), Ayato Kimura (22), and Youjin Sema (21)—were arrested by July on suspicion of stealing 111 items, including plush toys and fans featuring the Expo’s official mascot Myaku-Myaku, valued at roughly ¥410,000 (about USD 2,800).

The Osaka Prefectural Police later arrested two more suspects who initially fled the scene: Riko Natori (21), a university student from Tokyo, and Kento Aramaki (21), who is unemployed. Both were taken into custody on August 13. By August 15, investigators had also arrested another university student, Akihiro Kono (20), bringing the total number of suspects to six.

“The group targeted the restock date of collaboration goods with children’s clothing brand Familiar, which are highly sought after for resale. They had previously shoplifted at the Expo without being caught, so this time they attempted to steal a much larger haul,” said an investigative source.

The suspects allegedly filled tote bags with merchandise, deposited them in venue lockers, then moved on to other shops to continue stealing. Their actions were so conspicuous that nearby customers alerted staff, who called the police. Two suspects were restrained on the spot, while four others fled. A later search of Kono’s home uncovered around 50 stolen Expo items hidden in the ceiling.

According to police, all six suspects were friends bonded through their hobby of railway photography, known in Japan as tori-tetsu. The man arrested at the scene is believed to have organized the plan and recruited the others. Except for Aramaki, the unemployed suspect, the rest were students enrolled at mid-tier private universities in the Tokyo area.

Further Crimes Committed by the Suspects

Another investigative source revealed additional offenses committed by the six men.

“On the day of the incident, the suspects gathered at Tokyo Station. Using ¥150 platform admission tickets, they boarded the Shinkansen without purchasing proper seats. Communicating with each other to avoid being detected by conductors, they got off at Shin-Kobe Station before heading to the Expo venue. Among railway enthusiasts, Shin-Kobe is known as a station where fare evasion is less likely to be noticed, and the six slipped through the ticket gates separately to avoid station staff,” the source said.

Having reached the venue by fare evasion, they committed yet another crime at the entrance.

“Instead of paying the adult admission fee, they bought tickets at the youth rate meant for ages 12 to 17. Since no age verification was done at the entrance gates, they only had to scan the QR code on their smartphones, and staff did not stop them,” the same source explained.

From theft to fare evasion to fraudulent entry, the group of tori-tetsu (railway photography enthusiasts) stacked one offense on top of another. One of the arrested suspects reportedly told investigators:

“Security at Shin-Osaka Station is strict, so we got off at Shin-Kobe instead. Train enthusiasts travel all over Japan by rail, but usually it’s by fare-dodging. Among tori-tetsu circles, fare evasion is considered normal and widely known.”

The six, who showed utter disregard for rules and society, brought trouble not only to the Expo and the railway companies, but also to fellow tori-tetsu. Now, the law will bring its judgment down on them.