Ninja of Heisei
{{Short description|Japanese criminal (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Mitsuaki Tanigawa
| native_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1943}}
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| occupation =
| criminal_charge = Multiple counts of theft and trespassing
| other names = Ninja of Heisei
| years_active = 2009–2017
| conviction_status = Arrested
| locations = Higashiosaka, Osaka
| country = Japan
}}
{{nihongo|Mitsuaki Tanigawa|谷川満昭|Tanigawa Mitsuaki|born 1943}}, also known as the {{nihongo|Ninja of Heisei|平成の忍者|Heisei no ninja}},{{cite news|url=https://www.sankei.com/smp/photo/daily/news/171019/dly1710190027-s.html|script-title=ja:「平成の忍者」追送検 黒ずくめ、素早い７４歳「夜になるとスイッチが入った」|trans-title='Heisei Ninja' pursued: Black-clad, old but quick 74-year old 'becomes active at night'|website=Sankei|lang=ja|access-date=23 July 2023|date=19 October 2017}} is a Japanese criminal who gained notoriety for a series of burglaries in Osaka, Japan, while wearing a ninja outfit. Operating from March 2009 to June 2017, Tanigawa successfully executed over 250 break-ins.{{Cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=Aric |date=2017-10-25 |title=Japan Police Arrest 74-Year-Old 'Ninja' Thief On the Run for 8 Years |url=https://time.com/4997946/ninja-of-heisei-thief-japan/ |magazine=Time |language=en |access-date=2023-07-12}}{{Cite news |date=2017-10-25 |title=Japanese police arrest 74-year-old ninja thief suspect |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41750080 |access-date=2023-07-12}} Initially thought to be younger, he was caught in July 2017 at the age of 74. His ninja persona gained significant public interest and was reported by various local and international news outlets at the time.{{Cite web |last=O'Neill |first=Kara |date=2017-10-25 |title=Cops in Japan arrest 'ninja' over 250 break-ins – and get a big surprise |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/i-am-defeated-thief-dressed-11410343 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Daily Mirror |language=en}}
Crimes
Tanigawa is known for trespassing and committing general theft in the Osaka area. Prior to committing criminal acts, he would meticulously plan escape routes and execution, notably doing unexpected feats such as navigating tight spaces and running on walls. Tanigawa was known for dressing as if he were a stereotypical ninja.{{Cite web |last=Hitt |first=Caitlyn |date=2017-10-26 |title=Police catch 74-year-old 'ninja' cat burglar |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/police-catch-74-year-old-ninja-cat-burglar-article-1.3591362 |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=New York Daily News}}{{Cite news |last=Ryall |first=Julian |date=2017-10-24 |title=Japan's ninja cat-burglar 'unmasked as a pensioner' |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/24/japans-ninja-cat-burglar-unmasked-pensioner/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |issn=0307-1235}} He was rarely caught on surveillance cameras, leading police to suspect local residents of his burglaries.
Arrest
Tanigawa was arrested in 2017. He had been identified after he removed his face covering in an area visible from a surveillance camera. Shortly after this, he was followed by police officers and was seen entering an abandoned building. Later, when he came out, he was dressed in a ninja costume. Continued surveillance from police and his capture had Tanigawa admit and be charged to over 254 break-ins with the amount stolen being approximately {{¥|30,000,000|link=yes}}. Tanigawa has stated that he simply did not wish to work, and that he believed or currently believes that if he was a younger man he could have been a robber professionally.{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Alec |date=2017-10-27 |title="Ninja" Burglar Revealed to Be 74-Year-Old Man {{!}} News & Opinion |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/ninja-burglar-revealed-74-year-old-man/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Tokyo Weekender |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=2017-10-24 |title=74-year-old 'ninja' burglar caught in Osaka after evading police for decade |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/74-year-old-ninja-burglar-caught-osaka-evading-police-decade-090859240.html |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}