Ginza Six spray incident: 20 fall ill at Tokyo shopping complex
Synopsis
A man allegedly sprayed an unknown substance inside the upscale Ginza Six shopping complex in Tokyo on 25 May, leaving around 20 people ill and one hospitalised. The suspect fled before police arrived — and this is the second such spray-attack incident in Tokyo in under a month.
Key Takeaways
Around 20 people reported feeling ill and one person was hospitalised after an alleged spray incident at Ginza Six , Tokyo, on 25 May .
CCTV footage reportedly shows a man spraying an unidentified substance inside the complex before fleeing the scene.
An eyewitness reported a 'pungent smell,' widespread coughing, and a throat that 'still feels numb and painful.' On 29 April , a separate incident in Fussa, western Tokyo , saw a man attack two students with a hammer and spray an unknown substance on three police officers .
None of the injuries in either incident was reported as fatal; investigations are ongoing.
At least 20 people reported feeling unwell and one person was hospitalised on Monday, 25 May after a man allegedly sprayed an unknown substance inside the Ginza Six shopping complex in the Ginza district of Tokyo, according to local media reports. A woman at the scene made an emergency call, alerting authorities to a 'pungent smell' and widespread coughing inside the building.
What Happened at Ginza Six
Closed-circuit television footage reportedly captured a man spraying an unidentified substance within the complex before the emergency call was placed. The suspect appears to have fled the scene, and Tokyo police have launched a search operation. One eyewitness near the spot said she saw several pedestrians covering their mouths, adding that her throat 'still feels numb and painful.'
Emergency Response
Authorities responded swiftly after the emergency call was received. At least one affected individual was transported to a hospital for treatment, while roughly 20 others reported symptoms consistent with exposure to an irritant substance. The nature of the sprayed substance has not been confirmed by officials as of the time of reporting.
A Pattern of Similar Incidents in Tokyo
This is not an isolated event. On 29 April, a man allegedly attacked two high school students with a hammer and sprayed an unknown substance at several police officers on a street in Fussa, a suburban area in western Tokyo, at around 7:20 am local time. One student suffered a facial injury and another sustained a shoulder injury. The attacker, believed to be in his 40s, reportedly acted after his mother had asked a group of students talking on the street to be quiet and they did not comply.
According to police, when officers arrived at the scene near JR Fussa Station and began speaking with the man's mother, the suspect emerged with a knife and subsequently sprayed an unknown substance on them, injuring three officers. None of the injuries in the Fussa incident was fatal. Police who entered the man's residence found a hammer, a knife, and a spray canister, though CCTV footage indicated the suspect had escaped through a back door before officers could apprehend him.
What Investigators Are Examining
The two incidents — separated by less than a month — have drawn attention to the use of unknown spray substances as a means of attack in public spaces across Tokyo. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the cases are linked or whether the substances involved were the same. Investigations into both incidents remain ongoing.
As Tokyo police continue their search for the Ginza Six suspect, public safety concerns around crowded commercial areas are likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
One inside a premier shopping complex — point to a troubling pattern that authorities have yet to publicly connect or explain. The fact that the substance remains unidentified in both cases is a gap that matters: the public health response and the criminal charge both hinge on what was actually sprayed. Tokyo's reputation as one of the world's safest cities means incidents like these receive intense domestic scrutiny, but the speed of the suspect's escape from a CCTV-saturated venue like Ginza Six will raise uncomfortable questions about response protocols in crowded commercial spaces.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Ginza Six in Tokyo on 25 May?
A man allegedly sprayed an unknown substance inside the Ginza Six shopping complex in Tokyo's Ginza district on 25 May, causing around 20 people to fall ill and sending one person to hospital. The suspect fled before police arrived and a search is underway.
What substance was sprayed at Ginza Six?
The nature of the substance has not been officially confirmed as of the time of reporting. Witnesses described a pungent smell and symptoms including coughing and throat numbness, but authorities have not publicly identified the chemical involved.
Is this linked to the Tokyo spray attack on 29 April?
Police have not publicly confirmed any link between the Ginza Six incident and the 29 April attack in Fussa, western Tokyo. In the earlier incident, a man attacked two students with a hammer and sprayed an unknown substance on three police officers; none of those injuries was fatal.
Who was affected in the Ginza Six spray incident?
Around 20 people reported feeling unwell, with at least one person transported to hospital. An eyewitness near the scene said her throat 'still feels numb and painful' after the incident.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Tokyo police are actively searching for the suspect, who reportedly fled the Ginza Six complex after the spraying. Investigations into both the 25 May and 29 April incidents remain ongoing.
