In an unusual turn of events, a seemingly harmless anime figure has found himself in the spotlight in a robbery case that has the local community stumped. Last weekend, the Hyogo Prefectural Police received an unexpected call from a distraught 31-year-old man residing in the city of Himeji. Shockingly, his plea for help concerned a missing anime figure, setting off a chain of events that culminated in the arrest of his live-in girlfriend.
The unidentified man dialed the police emergency number, 110, in a state of anguish, exclaiming: “ My figure has disappeared! ” The unusual emergency call left the police perplexed, since 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, thefts like these can be attributed to relationship disputes or feelings of resentment. However, this particular incident took a different turn. Police determined that the girlfriend was the prime suspect in the case, and arrested her on robbery charges. Contrary to the stereotype of a frustrated couple taking action against a 2D anime girl figure, the stolen item was not a provocative character, but rather the main character from Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game franchise, Sora .
The investigation revealed that the motivation behind the unusual robbery was not emotional disagreement between the couple, but rather financial stress. The jobless girlfriend is reported to have confessed to the crime, stating that she sold the figurine to generate funds for “living expenses”. The term she used, “seikatsuhi,” encompasses both entertainment necessities and expenses, suggesting a lack of financial planning on her part.
The stolen Sora figurine has both sentimental and monetary value to the victim, but its market value was estimated to be just 4,000 yen (approximately US$29). Kingdom Hearts merchandise ranges widely in price, from budget items to exclusive collector's items. It appears that the bride's uninformed decision to steal and sell the figure resulted from a lack of knowledge of its true value.
The incident has generated discussion within 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 hold significant meaning and value to their owners.
Source: Kobe Shimbun Next via SoraNews24
