Man Detained After Setting Fire at Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
A man in his 50s was detained Friday night after intentionally setting a fire at the heart of Tokyo’s most iconic intersection, causing temporary chaos in the district.
The incident occurred around 9:05 p.m. On April 3, 2026, at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Dogenzaka 2-chome. According to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun Online and TBS News Dig, the suspect poured a liquid—believed to be kerosene—from a plastic bottle onto the pavement and ignited it with a lighter.
Emergency responders acted quickly to contain the blaze. The Tokyo Fire Department deployed four pump trucks to the scene, and as noted by Jiji Press, the fire was extinguished in approximately 15 minutes. No injuries were reported.
Shortly after the fire was put out, the suspect walked into the Shibuya Police Station to surrender. He reportedly told officers, “I just set fire to the scramble crossing, so I came here,” according to the Asahi Shimbun.
During the subsequent investigation, police discovered a cardboard box left at the scene. NTV News NNN reports that the box featured a message claiming, “Japan has been almost taken over.”
The Metropolitan Police Department is currently questioning the man to determine his motive. He is being investigated on suspicion of obstruction of traffic. This incident underscores the vulnerability of high-traffic urban landmarks to sudden disruptions.
