A male police lieutenant from the Ehime Prefectural Police Department and another man were referred to prosecutors over property damage on January 28.

The two are suspected of breaking the head of a statue of Japanese historical figure Toyotomi Hideyoshi in a shopping district in Nagoya in August 2025.  

The two men did not know each other. The officer was reportedly on a business trip to Aichi Prefecture at the time and was under the influence of alcohol.

The Ehime Prefectural Police stated that it will take appropriate action based on the facts as they become clear.

Restoration and repair to the damaged Hideyoshi statue cost approximately 250,000 yen, or about $1,670 US dollars.