World · East Asia & Pacific · 9 hrs ago
Japan cracks down on viral pranks targeting police
Young people across Japan are copying pranks that target police, often while friends record them.
The acts include entering police boxes, shouting at officers or making false calls to Japan’s 110 emergency number before fleeing.
In Mie prefecture, police confirmed 24 similar incidents in a month from late September and arrested three high school students over one incident.
Police have arrested or taken several young people into custody in different parts of the country, with cases involving children as well as teenagers.
The pranks can delay help for people facing real emergencies, and police say they will respond strictly.
TikTok says it has added related terms to its screening criteria to help prevent videos from encouraging people to copy the acts.
A viral social media prank targeting Japanese police has led to arrests and custody cases involving minors across the country.
The acts include entering police boxes, provoking officers, and making false emergency calls while shouting “Shorinji”.
Police say the pranks can delay help for people who genuinely need it and are taking a strict stance.
In Mie prefecture, police confirmed 24 similar incidents in a month starting in late September.
TikTok’s operator says it has added “Shorinji” and “police tag” to its content screening criteria.
- Who
- Minors and young people, including high school students, have been involved. Police across Japan are responding.
- What
- Social media-inspired pranks involve provoking police, entering police boxes, or making false emergency calls.
- When
- Incidents were reported from May through September and October. The articles were published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Across Japan, including Mie, Miyagi, Toyama, Hokkaido and Hyogo prefectures.
- Why
- Some young people have copied videos circulating on social media. Police say the acts can delay emergency assistance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Five high school students in Miyagi prefecture were referred to prosecutors over incidents involving rocket fireworks at police boxes.
Mie prefectural police confirmed 24 similar incidents in the prefecture over a month.
Toyama prefectural police took five minors into custody over prank calls to the emergency number.
Mie police arrested three high school students on suspicion of trespassing at an unmanned police box in Tsu City.
- Mie incidents
- 24 confirmed in a month starting in late September
- Mie arrests
- Three high school students, aged 16 to 18
- Miyagi case
- Five high school students referred to prosecutors in May
- Toyama cases
- Five minors taken into custody in September and October
- TikTok screening
- Shorinji” and “police tag” added as screening keywords
2 sources
What people are saying
This cannot be dismissed as mere mischief. We will deal with it strictly.
We saw a video on social media and thought we’d try it ourselves.
We wanted to make the police chase us.
Behaviours that obstruct the work of the police or other authorities, or that could lead to crime, are not permitted.