[25.12.27] Drunken On-Duty Police Officer Investigated for Beheading Toyotomi Hideyoshi Statue in Japan

Drunken On-Duty Police Officer Investigated for Beheading Toyotomi Hideyoshi Statue in Japan

📍 Officer allegedly damaged statue during business trip; civilian also charged with vandalism

A statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Nagoya, Japan, was vandalized after a drunken on-duty police officer allegedly twisted off its head. Japanese police are also investigating a civilian for further damage to the statue.

In connection with the vandalism of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi statue, a drunk on-duty police officer has been identified as a prime suspect and is under investigation.

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🔹 Police Officer Allegedly Damaged Statue While Intoxicated
According to NHK and other Japanese media outlets on August 26, Aichi Prefectural Police are investigating a police officer from Ehime Prefecture, identified as A, along with a civilian, identified as B, on suspicion of vandalism.

Officer A is accused of twisting and breaking the neck of a Toyotomi Hideyoshi statue with both hands on August 19 at the entrance of the Endoji shopping district in Nishi Ward, Nagoya. He was reportedly intoxicated at the time while visiting the area on a business trip.

🔹 Civilian Also Implicated Through CCTV Footage
Police later obtained CCTV footage dated August 23 showing civilian B kicking the already damaged head of the statue off its base. Authorities confirmed that A and B did not know each other prior to the incident.

After receiving a report from the shopping district’s promotion association, police identified the suspects through surveillance footage analysis. Both individuals are expected to be referred to prosecutors without detention once the investigation is complete.

🔹 Symbolic Statues Repeatedly Targeted
The damaged statue, made of reinforced plastic, was donated in 2013 by local business owner Kazuhiro Tokita to help revitalize the shopping district. The area also features statues of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, collectively representing Japan’s “Three Unifiers” of the Sengoku period.

This is not the first instance of vandalism involving these statues. In 2019, Oda Nobunaga’s statue lost its left arm, and in 2022, the Tokugawa Ieyasu statue was found toppled with damage to its back.

Tokita told NHK, “I’m relieved the investigation has progressed, but this should never have happened.” The statues are scheduled to be restored by early next year.

One-line summary : A drunken on-duty police officer and a civilian are under investigation for vandalizing a Toyotomi Hideyoshi statue in Nagoya.