Overview

• An employee in their 20s admitted to stealing 3.6 million yen from the Imperial Household budget between November 2023 and March 2025.
• The theft was uncovered during an internal investigation initiated in January 2025 after a manager noticed cash discrepancies.
• The stolen funds, part of the 324 million yen annual living expenses budget for the emperor and his family, were returned by mid-April 2025.
• The Imperial Household Agency filed a criminal complaint, dismissed the employee, and penalized the assistant manager with a salary cut for lax oversight.
• Agency chief Yasuhiko Nishimura apologized to the royal family, calling the theft 'unthinkable,' and pledged to strengthen staff discipline and oversight.