Ramen shop manager arrested after punching himself in the face to fake $4K robbery

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A ramen shop manager in Japan was arrested for trying to commit insurance fraud. He punched himself in the face and falsely reported a robbery, hoping to steal money from the business.

A Kumamoto Ramen shop in Namekawa Town is getting a lot of attention after its manager was arrested for allegedly using dishonest tactics to disrupt business. The shop’s main location is at the center of the controversy.

According to reports, the 36-year-old manager called the police around 9:40 PM on October 23, 2025, to report an attack. He said a mugger punched him in the face and stole 670,000 yen – about $4,246 – in company funds. The mugger was reportedly armed with a knife.

The Saitama police took a statement from the man and began investigating the theft, but quickly became skeptical. They found no evidence on security cameras of anyone matching the description of the person he claimed committed the crime.

Furthermore, a review of the manager’s phone showed he had searched for troubling terms, including ‘fake robbery victim.’

Ramen shop owner punches self in face to fake robbery

So, I messed up big time. I got arrested on January 29th, 2026, for making a fake emergency call and basically getting in the way of the police. Turns out, I totally made the whole thing up! I was hoping to get my hands on 670,000 yen to pay my bills and, honestly, to spend some time at the pachinko parlor. It was a dumb plan, and I admitted it.

He admitted to hitting himself in the face to make it look like he’d been attacked, hoping to convince the police his story was true.

A fake robbery at a store has become a popular joke on Japanese social media, with many users amused by the manager’s clumsy attempt to pretend it happened.

Despite the recent scandal involving the former manager, there’s a positive side: people are now interested in trying the ramen shop, and it’s gaining attention as a potential dining spot.

A Japanese city recently canceled its yearly cherry blossom festival because of disrespectful tourist behavior. Officials reported that large crowds were trespassing on private property – including going into people’s homes and using their lawns as restrooms – causing significant problems for residents.

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2026-02-07 00:49