A 29-Year Career Ends in Heartbreak: Japanese Bus Driver Loses Entire Pension Over RM30 Incident
TOKYO, April 18 — After nearly three decades of serving the public as a bus driver in Kyoto, a Japanese man has lost everything — not for violence, not for fraud, but for a single misstep that cost just RM30.
The man, whose name was not made public, had dedicated 29 years of his life behind the wheel, transporting countless passengers through the streets of Kyoto. But one day in 2022 changed everything. Security footage captured him accepting a ¥1,000 bill (about RM30) from a group of five passengers and failing to properly report it — a mistake that would ultimately cost him his entire retirement payout of over RM370,000.
Initially fired by the Kyoto City government, he challenged the decision in court. A judge even agreed the punishment was too harsh, suggesting it didn’t match the mistake. But in a crushing turn of events, Japan’s Supreme Court reversed that ruling this week — reinstating his dismissal and confirming he would not receive a single yen of his retirement package.
The court emphasized that even minor misconduct could damage public trust in the transportation system, especially given the responsibility bus drivers have in handling public money.
Details from the case reveal a complicated picture. The driver had instructed passengers to drop ¥150 in coins into the fare box and took the ¥1,000 bill by hand, but failed to process it correctly. When confronted, he denied any wrongdoing — a decision that likely influenced the severe outcome.
He had also been previously warned for smoking an e-cigarette while on duty, though never with passengers present.
For many, the story is less about theft and more about how unforgiving systems can be. A lifetime of work erased over a single lapse in judgment. A man now left with no retirement, no job, and a heavy public judgment — all for the price of a lunch.
“We cannot tolerate any misuse of public money,” said Shinichi Hirai from Kyoto’s transport bureau, underscoring the city’s firm stance.
But one can’t help but ask — should 29 years of service really end like this?