TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a former video game world champion over a burglary in Nerima Ward earlier this year. During questioning, he admitted to dozens of other similar break-ins, reports TBS News (Apr. 1).
On an afternoon in February, Tomoyuki Inui, 33, of no known occupation, gained access to the residence of an 84-year-old woman by smashing a window. He then allegedly stole 2.6 million yen in cash that she kept in the living room.
“With my video game activities winding down, I turned to [burglaries] to cover living costs,” the suspect, a residence of Tachikawa City, was quoted by police in admitting to the allegations. He added that he carried out about 100 similar break-ins over the past three years.
The detainee has, under the name “Katsuninken”, won the Dead or alive Ultimate tournament in Singapore, 2005. For this endeavor, he received $15,000 (~$19,800 adjusted to inflation). After this, he did not participate in the DoA 4 tournaments in 2006 and 2007. Eventually, support for Dead or Alive series died, even though the Esports industry itself exploded.
