ATAMI, Aug 24 (News On Japan) - Several individuals were spotted by a news trespassing into a luxurious mansion on Friday, raising questions about the state of the 'legendary ruins' once owned by a real estate tycoon.
A video posted on X on August 11 shows the interior of the grand villa, perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, now in a state of disrepair, with numerous graffiti marks scrawled across the walls. A man, presumed to be an intruder, can be seen standing in the living room with broken windows, gazing out at the sea.
The video, seemingly shot by someone who unlawfully entered the ruins, shows the person brazenly exposing his face, sitting comfortably on a sofa, and even making a peace sign.
Recently, illegal entries into this abandoned mansion have become rampant, with many uploading videos of their escapades to social media.
The mansion was once owned by Genjiro Kawamoto, 91, who operated the Marunouchi Building in Tokyo's Ginza district, among other rental properties.
Kawamoto, who was known as a real estate tycoon with a total asset of 130 billion yen at one time, was arrested in 2013 for a massive tax evasion case and sentenced to prison. He passed away in February 2024, after being released.
Why has this mansion, now in ruins, become a hotspot for trespassing?
According to Toru Kurihara, an expert on abandoned buildings, “The reason for sneaking in and filming is likely to increase views on social media.”
During the interview on the 23rd, the news team encountered yet another group of trespassers. This time, it appeared to be a group of women taking selfies inside the mansion.
When asked why they came to the site, one of the intruders responded, “If you search for 'Atami' on social media, this place pops up. Since it's no longer owned by anyone, I didn't think it would be a big deal.”
However, the increasing number of intrusions has led to significant damage.
According to Kurihara, there have been cases where intruders have destroyed furnishings.
In a video posted by a foreign “ruins YouTuber” about five years ago, the mansion's interior was still intact, with no graffiti or damage to the objects. However, as the location gained popularity on social media, the number of trespassers surged, leaving the mansion in a state of complete disrepair.
What legal consequences do these trespassers face?
Takashi Matsukuma, a lawyer at Hashimoto Sogo Law Firm, explains:
"The primary charge would be unauthorized entry into a building, which could result in up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 100,000 yen. If any items inside are damaged, it could also constitute property damage."
Source: FNN
