A Japanese anime fan has been arrested after allegedly placing and canceling more than $27 million worth of merchandise orders linked to popular series including One Piece and Naruto.
Tokyo police arrested 32-year-old Mayu Yoshida on August 4 on suspicion of fraudulently obstructing the business of manga publisher Shueisha.
Investigators say Yoshida placed more than 2,000 orders through Shueisha’s official Jump Characters Store between July 2024 and May 2025, using 238 different accounts. The orders reportedly included figures and other merchandise from One Piece, Naruto, and several other franchises.
Police allege that Yoshida repeatedly placed orders without completing payment. Some purchases were automatically canceled after payment deadlines expired, while others were reportedly ordered using cash on delivery and then refused when the packages arrived.
Shueisha estimated the total value of the canceled merchandise at approximately 4.3 billion yen, or around $27 million. That figure represents the value of the products ordered and canceled, rather than a confirmed $27 million loss for the publisher.
Yoshida reportedly admitted to the allegations and told investigators that she placed the orders because of stress in her daily life. She said ordering anime merchandise gave her a sense of satisfaction and helped her feel refreshed.
Shueisha contacted police about the repeated cancellations in June 2025, shortly after the alleged ordering activity ended.