Japanese authorities have extended the public reward offered in the Beppu hit-and-run case. The decision was made to maintain momentum in the investigation and solicit further assistance from the public. The terms of the reward will remain unchanged.

In recent years, there has been growing support among authorities and the public in Japan for the application of public rewards to help solve difficult crime cases. Citizens strongly back these initiatives as it reinforces community's role in maintaining safety and order.

Similar to the US and more and more European countries, Japan uses public rewards to encourage citizens to provide helpful information that can aid police investigations. While in the US the practice is long-standing, in Europe it is not as common, but it is being increasingly used, especially in difficult cases.