Takara Tomy's multimedia sensation, Beyblade X, isn't just a hit manga and anime; it's a global phenomenon with countless Beyblade products and tournaments drawing massive crowds of fans across Japan. Kids and adults alike are diving into the competitive scene, and the excitement is off the charts!
But hold up! A recent post on X (formerly Twitter) from the reigning champion of the BEYBLADE X X-TREME CUP GP 2024 has dropped a bombshell. Turns out, winning the "pure gold Beyblade medal" came with a nasty surprise: a hefty tax bill and fines that left him absolutely fuming.
The champion, known as Tatsuya of Wari Bey (@beybladefutsuu), clinched his victory last November and proudly showed off his "pure gold Beyblade medal" on X. Crafted in the iconic "Dran Sword Plate" design, it was supposed to be a cherished memento. Instead, it quickly turned into a major headache.
▼ Tatsuya of Wari Bey, the champion
In his recent post, the champ revealed he was slapped with a massive tax payment because of the gold medal. "I just paid an absolutely ridiculous fine," he lamented. "Please, for the love of all that's holy, don't give out prizes like this in 2025!"
He continued, "By the way, on October 27th, the day I won, I was even made to sign an agreement prohibiting transfer, resale, or monetization. But this thing has no value to me, and now I'm being taxed on it? What's even crazier is I wasn't allowed to see its pure gold certificate or even flip it over to look at the back. If I could go back to that day, I absolutely would not have accepted it..."
He added, "Since the value of pure gold fluctuates, it's probably impossible for them to give out the exact same prize again. Plus, I'm the only one affected this time, so people might just tell me to 'shut up and take it.' But I still think the organizers really need to reconsider this. How is it normal for winning a championship to result in a fine?"
The post quickly went viral. Tatsuya clarified that the withholding slip he received wasn't for 1 million yen (lol), nor was it the official figure of 13,059 (yen/gram) × 83 (grams) = 1,083,897 (yen) that was initially announced.
He emphasized that the amount wasn't even based on the current market price of gold, and to make matters worse, no one explained how the tax was calculated. He was inexplicably taxed by the tax authorities, leaving him utterly baffled. The tax authorities deemed that he had failed to properly declare the acquired gold as income, resulting in not only back taxes but also a penalty.
In short, this prize couldn't be sold, gifted, or converted into cash, yet it was still treated as taxable income. The champion ended up paying money to receive his award, essentially getting "fined for winning."
Many netizens were equally stunned, commenting, "A prize that turns into a fine? What kind of twisted logic is that?" and "This prize is a total trap!" Others suggested that the organizers might be trying to mess with the champions. The incident has sparked a debate among fans about whether future competitions should offer more practical prizes instead of leaving champions "happy first, then paying later."
However, the prize for the 2025 competition has already been confirmed to be the same "pure gold Beyblade medal." Tatsuya warned that since winners in all categories will receive it, even elementary school students might get one. He urged parents to be aware of the potential issues unless they choose to decline the prize.
What should have been a moment of pure joy for winning a championship has ironically turned into a punishment. No wonder the champion is lamenting and wishing for different prizes in the future. Perhaps the organizers truly need to rethink how they reward participants to avoid causing such unexpected headaches.
via： togetter