On December 10, 1962, four employees of Nihon Shintaku Ginko were tasked with transporting 294,307,500 yen (approximately $800,000 in 1968) to a Toshiba factory in Fuchu, western Tokyo. The funds were intended as bonuses for factory workers but never reached their destination.
Near their destination, the employees were stopped by a young man dressed as a motorcycle police officer. He claimed their manager's house had been blown up and that their car contained an explosive. The employees exited the vehicle as the man crawled underneath, producing smoke and flickers of red fire. After rolling out, he promptly drove away in their car. Despite the suspicious circumstances, the employees initially believed the man was legitimate, until they discovered their manager’s house was unharmed.
Investigators found 120 pieces of evidence, but none pointed to a criminal mastermind. The “bomb” was later identified as a harmless flare. The chief suspect, a 19-year-old police officer’s son, died from cyanide poisoning five days after the robbery. Over 60 years later, the case remains unsolved, one of Japan’s most infamous cold cases.
The employees faced criticism for their quick compliance, but the situation was complex. Their manager had been receiving threatening letters, and the impostor’s gun and authoritative demeanor likely heightened their fear. The case serves as a reminder of how easily even rational individuals can be manipulated under duress.