Japanese man arrested for breaking 137-year-old ‘dueling’ law in deadly street brawl

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A man was arrested in Japan for violating an old law from the 1800s that prohibits dueling. The arrest followed a street fight that began during a game of Shogi and resulted in a fatality.

On January 8, 2026, 26-year-old Fugetsu Asari was arrested after allegedly participating in a duel that resulted in a fatal injury.

News reports say Asari committed the crime on September 23, 2025, in Kabukicho, a well-known entertainment area of Japan.

Asari stated he had never met 30-year-old Naoya Matsuda before the night in question. They played a game of Shogi, or Japanese chess, and a disagreement later occurred. Reports indicate Asari had been drinking when the incident happened.

Asari told police they didn’t remember what started the fight, but it quickly became physical, with reports describing the attack on Matsuda as overwhelmingly in favor of their assailant.

Asari reportedly attacked the victim for ten minutes, throwing him to the ground and causing head and facial injuries. These injuries led to severe brain damage and, ultimately, multiple organ failure, resulting in the victim’s death on October 12th. Police determined the death was a direct consequence of the assault.

Asari expressed his regret over his opponent’s death while admitting to the charges against him. He explained that a minor disagreement had originally caused his anger towards Matsuda.

A man in Japan was arrested for participating in a duel, which is illegal under a law from 1889. The incident happened around 4 AM after a game of Shogi, and reports suggest it wasn’t much of a fight. The man who won claims he doesn’t recall what started it.

— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) January 8, 2026

Japanese man faces prison time after duel turns deadly

Asari was accused of violating Japan’s law against dueling, one of the nation’s oldest criminal laws. This law dates back to 1889, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, Japan’s law against duels makes it illegal to issue a challenge, accept one, or even witness a duel.

Participating in a duel is illegal and can result in a prison sentence of two to five years.

Asari could also face charges for unintentionally causing someone’s death, which carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years.

Duelling is uncommon in most countries, but Japan saw a rare case in October 2025 when a man and a high school student were arrested for allegedly fighting a duel.

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2026-01-09 23:19