Japanese nationals in Brazil for the World Cup have fallen victim to crime in eight cases so far during the tournament, including being robbed at knife point in Recife, according to the government.

"As of June 16, there have been reports of four cases in Recife and four cases in Sao Paulo where Japanese nationals" were robbed or mugged, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a news conference on Monday. Tourists attending the event should remain on the alert while in Brazil, the government's top spokesman added.

According to the foreign ministry, the four cases in Sao Paulo were all luggage theft and robbery. In Recife, where Japan played its first match against Ivory Coast on Sunday, two Japanese men in their 20s were robbed by young men carrying knives, an official at the ministry's Japanese Nationals Overseas Safety Division said. The assailants took their cameras and about ¥100,000 ($982) in cash. The foreign ministry has issued special warnings for those visiting the World Cup, including the latest one released on June 9. They warn Japanese visitors not to fight back when mugged and to do what the robber says in order to avoid serious consequences. "Compared with other host cities, Recife has an extremely high crime rate," the ministry says. The warning also states that Natal, where Japan will play its second match on Friday Japan time against Greece, has seen a rising number of robberies as well as purse snatchers in tourist spots. Cuiaba, where Japan will play its final match of the group league against Colombia, "has seen robberies and thefts both during the day and night," the ministry warns.

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