News Imperial Household sacks employee over cash theft from palace funds

The individual was among roughly 80 attendants working at the Imperial Palace and agency offices. Officials described the case as highly unusual and a serious embarrassment, with no known precedent in modern times.


The theft came to light during an internal review launched in January after a department assistant manager discovered a mismatch between the amount of cash in the safe and official records. In late March, when a shortfall of ¥ $30,000 was found, the employee, who had just completed an overnight shift, admitted to the theft, citing personal financial hardship. According to the IHA, the individual confessed to taking cash between November 2023 and March 2024. During that time, the chamberlain stole a total of 3.6 million yen. The full amount was returned by mid-April.

The money was part of a 324 million ¥ ($2.24 million) annual budget allocated as living expenses for the emperor, his wife Masako, their daughter Princess Aiko and Naruhito's parents — former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The IHA said it had filed a criminal complaint with the palace police and formally dismissed the employee. The assistant manager in his 40s noticed the cash irregularity in January and was given a one-month salary cut for his lax accounting management. IHA chief Yasuhiko Nishimura said the theft by the employee as a public servant and a staff member serving the imperial family was "unthinkable" and "extremely regrettable," and apologised to the emperor and his family, NHK public television reported.

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