crime

Man who took entire town’s COVID-19 money now out of jail and turning life around

23 Comments
By SoraNews24

Everyone probably remembers the incident earlier this year in which a single man was accidentally issued an amount of COVID-19 relief money equal to that intended for every citizen of Abu Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture. After discovering the 46.3 million yen in his bank account, Sho Taguchi very quickly began placing bets with almost all of it at an online casino, and then disappeared for a while.

While a lawyer skillfully managed to wrangle most of the money back to the town government, Taguchi was still on the hook for charges of fraudulent use of a computer and has been in jail ever since.

However, on August 1, he was released on bail and made a very memorable walk from the police station.

▼ Yes, a mighty wind was blowing on that day…the wind of change!

Taguchi later explained that while people in prison are given haircuts, such a luxury is not available in jail, so his locks got a little out of hand during his two-and-a-half months in lock-up.

Nevertheless, he was a free man for the time being and released a statement through his lawyer that said: “I am very sorry that I have caused trouble to many people with my actions. After I am released on bail, I will work and pay back the money I took, little by little.”

This just leaves the questions of how he could afford the bail and who is going to hire a suspected fraudster that made international headlines. The answer to both of those questions is: Hikaru.

Hikaru is a very popular YouTuber in Japan, who has also spawned something of a media empire with his success. It turns out that during his windswept release, Taguchi walked right off the news cameras and right onto Hikaru’s camera inside the car.

▼ This very long video shows Hikaru drive to the police station, pick up Taguchi, and then interview him (the video is cued to the moment they pull into the police station)

For those unfamiliar with the famous YouTuber, Hikaru is a self-made millionaire who started out in a factory, but after dealing with power harassment, quit and got into the sometimes dodgy business of joho shozai or “information products.” This is where people sell a book or seminar with a promise of secrets to “earning millions a year” or “strengthening your memory in five days,” but since they’re secrets you can’t know what they are until you pay up and — as often is the case — are disappointed when they don’t work.

Hikaru made a killing in information products, but had ethical problems with the work, so he quit that too. Instead, he took the money he accumulated, along with his natural resourcefulness, to YouTube, where he now uses his financial and creative powers for good, by exposing fraudulent businesses and creating interesting content.

Perhaps Hikaru’s own background is why he took a liking to Taguchi and saw him as a generally good person who just made some bad choices early in his life. In addition to bailing him out of jail, Hikaru also set him up with employment at one of his related businesses which allows him to work remotely, since he’s not allowed to leave Yamaguchi. He will first be required to undergo training in computer skills and business etiquette and prove his reliability to the company before working there properly.

Taguchi will soon be working with QBT, a vendor of low-carb chicken and broccoli meals.

Taguchi also set up his own Twitter account on August 1 that chronicles his efforts to turn his life around and work hard to repay the money he owes. Considering the wild ride he’s been on this year, his Twitter feed is an endearingly simple and earnest collection of posts, such as this one where he’s watching YouTube videos to learn how to use Office software on a Mac.

And in yet another unexpected turn in a series of unexpected turns too long to count, Taguchi’s Twitter account exploded in popularity. As of this writing, only four days after he opened his account, he garnered over 90,000 followers, making him a potential influencer if he so desired.

Criminal charges still hang over his head, but it looks like Sho Taguchi is well on his way to not only getting out of the hole he dug for himself, but making an even better life for himself down the road. And more than just helping himself, he could even become an example to others who might have taken a wrong turn in life and feel like there’s no way out.

Source: TV Asahi NewsTYSPR TimesHachima Kiko*, Itai News * 

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Town in Yamaguchi accidentally sends everyone’s COVID-19 relief money to one person

-- Hero lady apparently saves guy from groping accusations by posing as girlfriend

-- Japanese town recovers 43 million yen in COVID money mistakenly sent to one man who gambled it away

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

23 Comments
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This is a nice story, hoping he takes advantage of the second chance. How cool is that YouTuber? How many people reach out to help? Millionaire or not?

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Taguchi later explained that while people in prison are given haircuts, such a luxury is not available in jail, so his locks got a little out of hand during his two-and-a-half months in lock-up.

‘No haircuts? Why? That’s just weird.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

For those unfamiliar with the famous YouTuber, Hikaru is a self-made millionaire who started out in a factory, but after dealing with power harassment, quit and got into the sometimes dodgy business of joho shozai or “information products.” This is where people sell a book or seminar with a promise of secrets to “earning millions a year” or “strengthening your memory in five days,” but since they’re secrets you can’t know what they are until you pay up and — as often is the case — are disappointed when they don’t work.

What a heartwarming Horatio Alger-esque story of success in late stage capitalism.

Keep on grifting til you make it by grifting someone else.

As business leaders and politicians scam and deceive the public, the public learns to....

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Strike while the fire's hot as they say. Dude has every kid and young persons attention at the moment and the 15 minutes of fame could be all he needs. Certainly the youtuber crowd in Japan will by inviting him

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I’m very interested in one point.

if I suddenly get ¥46million and I gamble it, will I double my money or loose all? I’ve never gambled, but now that abenonomis has raised my food prices by 10%, is gambling to offset this a real option?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

And what about the Morons in the Yamaguchi city hall that actually made the “mistake” in giving him the funds? Did they do jail time too?

10 ( +11 / -1 )

‘No haircuts? Why? That’s just weird.

You also have to share the same electric shaver on your floor.

And, share the same bath water with your fellow criminals.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@k3p0

i share the water at my local onsen with many people, but there is no luxury like an electric shaver. Just a single blade ¥50 razor that cuts my face skin. Spoilt criminals.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

If the fools in city hall decided to send me 46 million yen by "mistake", my first question would have been...

"Can I get away with keeping this?" I'm sure I'm not alone.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Is shampoo, conditional, hair dryer, or even coloring available in Japan prison to maintain his long hair ? .

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Crime pays.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Can really see this story becoming a TV movie. Lots of overacting and drama! Imagine if he actually turns his life around.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Younger readers pay attention, important life lesson from the JT: Crime pays. Being honest does not.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Younger readers pay attention, important life lesson from the JT: Crime pays. Being honest does not.

This guy had his liberty taken away for 2.5 months, and will likely have a criminal record that will make it extremely hard to find employment in Japan moving forward as a result, as well as not being allowed into other countries due to his criminal background.

How exactly is this 'crime paying'?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Taguchi deserves a good kick in the testicles on camera for stealing in such a blatant manner and then being such a spoiled brat about it.

The public humiliation is no less than he deserves.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

in 2-1/2 months my hair might grow about 6cm...how long was this dudes har before he went to the slammer???

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Oh lemme see. This sounds SO much like what I've seen so many times in own life and in American society around me.

State that you are a 'changed man' and that 'you saw the light'.

Go to alcohol recovery. It's fashionable to say that you did.

'Find Jesus'. Or at least say did.

Go off on a circuit of lecturing. Become a 'motivational speaker' and give lectures in churches, meeting halls, libraries, etc. about 'empowerment' and 'realization' and new age 'wisdom'.

Sell books about your new 'enlightenment'. You can have it ghostwritten if you like. Make CD-ROMs too.

If you're lucky, you can get on an afternoon TV talk show and rip more people off.

Steal steal steal.

From Art Schlister (a shill from my university) to the man behind ZZZZZ Best Carpet Cleaners in San Francisco (80's) to Maurice Clarette (another disgrace to my university) and countless others, Sho Taguchi has a very bright future, especially in America because there's enough gullible people to believe him and fall for all this jive. Big money goes around the world, it's the old-time religion.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

46.3 million yen. That's about 340 000 US. That's good that he has had someone to help him get out of the mess and he has decided to turn his life around. He made a mistake and don't we all, but he feels guilt and wishes to pay back all the money he took so good on him. I wish him the best.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

ConcernedReaderAug. 7  04:15 pm JST

Something tells me this whole YouTuber story was authored early on in this saga. Most likely before he even turned himself in? Sadly the YouTube audience will eat it up and gush all over the poor down on his luck story. As mentioned before by some one it's grifting in spades. Youtube has many great content unfortunately for the unsuspecting audience such as young adults they will get stuck on garbage due to their algorithm that feeds on itself.

Please read my previous post. I've seen it so many times and it has occurred so many times. And it does today and they weasel those who fall for it. Wait for a new book to come out soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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