In a troubling case of stalking in Japan, a 29-year-old company employee, Kosuke Senoo, was arrested for allegedly attaching a tracking device, classified as a "lost item prevention tag," to a friend's bicycle to unlawfully access her location information. This incident occurred in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, where the local police reported that Senoo had acted against Japan's Stalker Regulation Law by capturing the woman’s movements without her knowledge—a violation reinforced by amendments made to the law in December 2022, which included the regulation of such tracking tags.

Senoo reportedly confessed to the police, stating that he had mounted the tracking device because he wanted to observe the woman's movements and had feelings for her. Between January 15 and 31, he was observed taking pictures near the woman's apartment complex and reportedly loitered in the common areas, actions that raised concerns among residents. His installation of the tag on her bicycle's saddle allowed him to obtain her location information on three occasions on January 26, ultimately leading to a call to the police after a suspicious smartphone was discovered filming the vicinity.

This incident marks a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges with stalker behavior and the misuse of technology in personal relationships. The case claims significance as it is the first application of the revised law's provisions concerning the misuse of lost item prevention tags in Hyogo Prefecture. The woman's lack of awareness regarding the stalking until it was reported highlights the potential dangers of modern tracking technology and raises questions about privacy rights and personal security in Japan, especially considering the societal implications of stalking and harassment in the digital age.