A significant robbery incident occurred in Ueno, Tokyo, at the end of January, where a suitcase containing approximately 4.2 billion yen was stolen from a man. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced on the 14th that they arrested seven men for their involvement in the crime, including Jinryu Kano (21), a member of the Kodo-kai group under the Yamaguchi-gumi, and Koji Koike (47), a known associate. Other arrests included senior members of the Sumiyoshi-kai and Kyokuto-kai Yakuza factions, all suspected of conspiring to commit the robbery. The robbery took place on January 29 around 9:30 PM when the suspects attacked a 38-year-old man, who was managing the luggage, spraying him with a substance resembling tear gas. Subsequent investigation through security camera footage indicated that Kano and Koike directed the operation from parked vehicles while three other men executed the actual theft. Immediately after the robbery, the suspects fled in a vehicle but were involved in a subsequent minor accident, which led to their identification. Authorities believe the stolen cash was intended for purchasing gold in Hong Kong. The victim indicated that the money was meant to be transported to Hong Kong for this purpose. The police theorize that the suspects had knowledge of this arrangement, leading to their planning and ambush to carry out the robbery shortly after the victim acquired the cash.