Former professional world boxing champion Yasujirō Yakushiji and a 28-year-old woman have been indicted for forging and submitting a fake adoption notice [1].
The case highlights a serious breach of Japanese civil registration laws, as the defendants allegedly bypassed legal consent requirements to establish a familial bond. This legal maneuver attempted to create a permanent legal relationship without the knowledge of Yakushiji's spouse.
The Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office filed the indictment on May 28, 2026 [3]. Yakushiji, 57 [1], and his female accomplice are charged with the forgery and use of a sealed private document, as well as the recording and use of a false electronic public record [2].
According to the investigation, the pair submitted the fraudulent adoption notice to the ward office in Nagoya's Naka Ward [1]. The prosecution said that Yakushiji sought to adopt the woman without his wife's consent to fulfill his feelings for her [2].
There are conflicting reports regarding when the forgery occurred. Some reports state the documents were forged in November 2024 [1], while other sources indicate the act took place in January 2024 [5].
"My feelings for the person I love were great," Yakushiji said [2].
Both defendants were indicted while not in custody. A spokesperson for the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office said that the indictment was officially dated May 28 [2].
“"My feelings for the person I love were great," Yakushiji said.”
This case underscores the legal protections surrounding the Japanese family registry system (Koseki), where the unauthorized modification of familial ties through forgery is treated as a criminal offense rather than a private civil dispute. By attempting to forge an adoption—a process that typically requires strict legal consent—the defendants have moved from a personal relationship into the realm of document fraud and the falsification of official government records.
