Two Americans Arrested After Meme-Coin Stunt at Japanese Zoo

Two American men were arrested after one of them climbed into the enclosure of Punch, a macaque at Ichikawa Zoo in a Tokyo suburb, while wearing a costume promoting the Solana-based token Just a Memecoin and the other recorded the incident.

Authorities identified the suspected climber as 24-year-old Reid Jahnai Daysun and the man who allegedly filmed the encounter as 27-year-old Neal Jabahri Duan. Both were taken into custody and have denied the charges. The zoo filed a damage report with the Ichikawa Police Station after the intrusion.

Video and photo evidence show a man climbing over the perimeter fence and entering the macaque area in promotional attire. Ichikawa Zoo posted on X, “Last night, we filed a damage report with the Ichikawa Police Station,” and added that it will prioritize animal safety and take steps to prevent rule violations.

The zoo said no animals were harmed and that none showed signs of physical abnormality after the incident. Officials said they are considering a ban on filming in some areas and plan to add intrusion-prevention nets and regular patrols around restricted sections.

Clips of the stunt drew millions of views on social media, and trading interest in Just a Memecoin rose in the days after the incident. Market data show the token climbed roughly 35% over the week and was trading near $0.0118, with a market capitalization around $11.9 million. A separate Solana-based token tied to Punch previously reached a market cap above $43 million at the height of the monkey’s online attention and now trades at a smaller valuation.

The Just a Memecoin social account urged followers to follow local laws and avoid putting people or animals at risk, and offered a donation of 1 million yen (about $6,300) to the zoo.

Punch became an online attraction after footage circulated of the macaque repeatedly carrying a stuffed toy while being isolated by other monkeys in the enclosure. Zoo officials and police are reviewing the incident and pursuing legal action while implementing measures to reduce the chance of similar intrusions.