Former Power Rangers stuntman sentenced for 43-home burglary spree in Japan
Yasutomo Ihara, a former Green Ranger stunt performer, was convicted for robbing 43 residences in Saitama Prefecture between 2013 and 2014 and received a five-year prison term.
Yasutomo Ihara helped bring the iconic Green Ranger to life in the Japanese productions that later became the Western Power Rangers series, also appearing in Tensou Sentai Goseiger and Kamen Rider OOO. A knee injury in 2009 forced him out of stunt work, leaving him without steady income. Seeking money to attend drama school, he turned to burglary, targeting at least 43 homes in Saitama Prefecture from late 2013 through 2014.
His stunt training let him scale walls and reach balconies that ordinary thieves could not, leading Japanese media to label him the “Spider-Man Thief.” He confessed to stealing items valued at roughly 8.2 million yen (about $77,000). A 2020 judgment handed him a five-year prison sentence. The case resurfaced online after creators like Project Nightfall highlighted the tragic shift from celebrated performer to criminal, prompting discussion about support for injured entertainers.
Why it matters
The case illustrates how lack of support for injured performers can lead to desperate criminal behavior.
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