Around 19 to 20 people were injured after a man sprayed a substance near an ATM on the ground floor of the Ginza Six luxury shopping mall in Tokyo around noon May 25, police said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The sprayed material is believed to be an irritant spray, possibly containing capsaicin or resembling tear gas, though its exact chemical nature remains under investigation [1, 4, 5].
Those affected reported throat pain, stinging, itchiness, coughing and headaches. No life-threatening injuries were reported [1, 3, 4, 5]. A 70-year-old woman said, "By the time I arrived, the commotion had already started, and I thought there might have been a small fire or something. Once I went into the ATM corner, my throat felt scratchy, almost numb" [1, 3].
Police identified a man on mall security footage spraying the substance before fleeing toward the Shimbashi area. Officers are searching for the suspect [1, 4].
Emergency services responded in force with more than 50 vehicles including police, firefighters and ambulance crews. The road in front of the mall was blocked off while people were evacuated. Some were carried out by officials in hazmat suits and taken to specialized trucks for examination [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Despite the incident, shoppers continued entering and exiting through side entrances [3, 6].
Violent crime is rare in Japan, with notable past incidents including a 2025 factory stabbing involving a sprayed liquid, the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the 1995 sarin gas subway attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult [3, 6].
Authorities are continuing the search for the suspect and investigating the substance used. No arrests have been reported as of this evening [1, 4].
