Key Facts
• Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing, announced stricter measures against shoplifting in June 2025.
• Foreign groups, particularly Vietnamese nationals, are involved in repeated shoplifting incidents.
• Estimated annual shoplifting losses in Japan exceed ¥300 billion ($2.1 billion).
• Osaka police arrested three Vietnamese women in 2024 for stealing ¥12.3 million ($85,000) worth of goods.
• Fast Retailing plans to pursue civil lawsuits for all damages, including stolen goods and related costs.
• Nationwide, 5–7% of shoplifting arrests involve foreign nationals, with Vietnamese accounting for the majority.
• A bookstore chain in Nagoya has reduced losses by implementing compensation claims for 20 years.
• The bookstore recovered ¥5.74 million ($40,000) in 2024, including ¥820,000 ($5,700) in labor costs.
• Uniqlo has installed security cameras and retrained staff, improving theft prevention.
• The National Shoplifting Prevention Organization estimates annual shoplifting damages at ¥346 billion ($2.4 billion).
Summary
Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, has announced a firm stance against shoplifting, particularly targeting foreign groups involved in organized theft. The company plans to pursue civil lawsuits to recover all damages, including stolen goods and associated costs. Shoplifting incidents, often involving Vietnamese nationals, have caused significant losses, with Japan’s annual damages estimated at over ¥300 billion ($2.1 billion). Uniqlo has implemented measures such as staff retraining and security camera installations, but theft persists. A Nagoya-based bookstore chain has successfully reduced losses by claiming compensation for 20 years, recovering ¥5.74 million ($40,000) in 2024 alone. Experts predict more companies will adopt similar measures to combat shoplifting and raise awareness of its societal impact.
