Man arrested for harassing Yomiuri Giants players at airport

Miyazaki Prefectural Police have arrested a 26-year-old man, identified as Tomoya Yoshida, on suspicion of violating the Miyazaki Prefectural Nuisance Prevention Ordinance and coercion.

The incident occurred in February at Miyazaki Airport, where Yoshida allegedly harassed a male player from the Yomiuri Giants by persistently demanding photos. When another individual attempted to record the encounter on a smartphone, Yoshida is accused of threatening him to force the deletion of the video evidence.

The Yomiuri Giants released a statement noting that while they ask fans to refrain from excessive photography and autograph requests during travel to avoid inconvenience, this specific case involved “excessive and persistent” behavior that caused significant mental distress to the players, prompting the team to seek police assistance.