Japan’s costumed criminal handed prison term for ‘addiction’

FUKUOKA (TR) – For some people, their addiction might be illegal drugs. For others, it could be tobacco or alcohol. For Tetsuya Fujisawa, however, his dependency is most unique: committing burglaries while in costume.

On Monday, the Fukuoka District Court handed Fujisawa, a 37-year-old resident of Iizuka City, a three-year prison — his second such sentence for what the court this time around described as an “addiction.”

According to the ruling, Fujisawa broke into the home of a woman in her 60s in Munakata City and stole about 17,000 yen in cash at around noon on February 6.

At the time, he was attired in a gray and blue pilot uniform for a character from the “Neon Genesis Evangelion” animation series. Beneath the suit, he was wearing a one-piece swimsuit for women and tights.

“When I do cosplay, I become a burglar,” Fujisawa was quoted by police upon the announcement of his arrest in March.

Playboy Bunny

Police also said that Fujisawa was suspected in nine other burglaries by a person in the same suit that had taken place since January.

Last year, Fujisawa was handed another prison term for a string of burglaries in which he was wearing other clothing, including a Playboy Bunny suit and that of the lead character in the film “Spider-Man 3.”

According to the ruling, the lasted break-in took place with 10 days of his release from his prison. “You have a severe addiction,” the presiding judge said in handing down the ruling.