Wiped Out 30 Million Won in 2 Minutes and 30 Seconds... Unexpected 'Luxury Items' Targeted by Thieves

Thefts Rampant at Bonsai Nurseries Across Japan
Cases of Stolen Bonsai Discovered Overseas

In Japan, a series of thefts targeting high-priced bonsai trees that have been painstakingly cultivated for decades are occurring across the country. As the popularity of Japanese bonsai has grown overseas and their prices have surged, thefts of valuable bonsai specimens are on the rise.

According to Kansai TV on September 11, incidents of theft targeting expensive bonsai trees have recently occurred at various bonsai gardens throughout Japan.

According to reports, about 50 pine trees for bonsai disappeared overnight last month from a bonsai garden located in Shikokuchuo, Ehime Prefecture.

Akashi Koyomatsu. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Rakuten

Luxury Bonsai Stolen... Damages Reach Tens of Millions of Won

The stolen items included the renowned local bonsai brands "Akashi Koyomatsu" (Japanese white pine) and Japanese black pine, among others. Most of the trees were about 1 meter tall, had excellent shapes, and had been cultivated for 50 to 60 years. Some were uprooted from the ground, leaving only large pits at the site.

Junichi Moritaka, chairman of the Akashi Koyomatsu Export Promotion Cooperative, explained that all the high-quality trees were stolen.

The stolen trees had been prepared over many years with the goal of exporting them to Europe. Just as they were about to be shipped overseas, the trees were stolen.

The estimated losses amount to about 5 million yen (approximately 4.4 million won).

Creating bonsai. Kansai TV, Japan

Thefts Reported Throughout Japan... Stolen Bonsai Discovered Overseas

Yashimaen, a bonsai garden in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, also suffered a theft in June. CCTV footage from the time shows a person dressed in white breaking into the garden.

This person examined the bonsai pots displayed on the shelves one by one, either putting them back or selecting and carrying away the chosen bonsai before quickly leaving the scene. The theft took only 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Around 20 bonsai, including Japanese black pines, were stolen, and the damage amounted to 3 million yen (approximately 2.63 million won).

The owner of the bonsai garden, Isao Yajima, pointed out that the perpetrator selectively stole only bonsai that could be immediately sold, raising the possibility that someone with expert knowledge of bonsai committed the crime.

This was not the first time the garden had been targeted. In November last year as well, 20 to 30 bonsai were stolen, with the damage totaling about 3 million yen. Yajima said, "It takes decades to grow bonsai trees before they can be sold," and added, "For the grower, they are like children, so the loss is even more painful."

There have also been cases where stolen bonsai have been found overseas. Another bonsai grower in the Kanto region lost around 40 to 50 bonsai in a single theft. The loss was close to 15 million yen (about 13.1 million won).

About a month after the theft, a regular customer reached out. A photo had been uploaded to a social media post believed to be from Europe, stating that a beautiful bonsai had been purchased at a bargain. According to the grower, the bonsai in the photo looked strikingly similar to the ones stolen.

The victim explained that, since he had personally cared for the trees for years, he could recognize his own bonsai immediately, noting that no two bonsai are identical.

However, it is reported that once bonsai have been taken overseas, it is difficult to bring them back to Japan due to Japan's strict plant quarantine regulations.

According to the Japan Bonsai Cooperative, more than 100 bonsai theft cases occur annually in Japan. As demand for bonsai increases and prices rise, the industry believes these factors have led to more thefts targeting valuable trees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.