Under Japanese law, motorised suitcases – some of which can travel up to 13 kilometres or eight miles per hour – are classed as vehicles which can only be operated with a driving licence.

Police have begun taking enforcement action amid complaints that they are becoming an increasingly common nuisance in airports, city streets and even in shops.

A Chinese woman in her 30s was referred to prosecutors last month for driving without a licence after allegedly riding a three-wheeled motorised suitcase on a pavement in Osaka, The Guardian reports.

An Indonesian boy was also disciplined for riding a suitcase in a busy Osaka shopping district.

Other electronic vehicles, meanwhile, are becoming more tolerated. For example, as of July 2023, over-16s can now ride e-scooters in Japan without the need for a licence.