This week the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) confirmed to news sources that missing Japanese poker player Yuto Moriyasu had been found safe, but refused to release further details.
BREAKING NEWS: A poker player reported missing in Las Vegas by friends and family has been found safe.
— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) July 10, 2025
26-year-old Yuto Moriyasu from Japan was last seen a week ago after being in town for the World Series of Poker tournament. Officials on Thursday say he had been located. pic.twitter.com/N2l0ZzY1tq
As we reported last week, the 27-year-old had flown into Vegas In May to play poker, with the Main Event supposed to be the culmination of his trip. However, when all the opening flights of the Main had passed, and Moriyasu still hadn’t appeared, concerns over his safety were raised.
The poker community became worried after his friend, Nobuaki Sasaki, the last person to see Moriyasu on July 2nd, explained his fears about the disappearance.
“Yuto and I are in constant communication all the time, daily, and then all of a sudden the communication stopped,” Sasaki told Fox5Vegas.
Sasaki revealed he been dropped off at the Horseshoe Casino, home to the Main Event, on the morning of July 2nd, and later that day texted that he would soon join Sasaki, but never appeared.
When Sasaki returned to their Airbnb later that day, he found their shared car still in the driveway and Moriyasu’s personal effects —wallet, phone, and ID card— in the living room.
In addition, there was a kitchen knife sitting on the living room chair with and what Sasaki described as a “large amount of cash” in an unlocked drawer.
However, Moriyasu’s Main Event buy-in — $10k in cash — was unaccounted for and his U.S. wallet and Japanese passport were also missing.
“At first, my guess was he maybe went to the casino to gamble and he lost all his money,” Sasaki explained, but added: “It’s already been a week, so I am very concerned.”
Sasaki contacted Moriyasu’s family who raised the concerns publicly, releasing a tweet with information:
🚨 URGENT MISSING PERSON ALERT: Yuto Moriyasu 🚨
— ベガスMAMA🇺🇸 (@VegasPokerMama) July 8, 2025
Authorities and family urgently request public assistance in locating Yuto Moriyasu, a 26-year-old Japanese national missing since July 2, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV.
Missing Person Details
– Name: Yuto Moriyasu
– Age: 26
-…
“Since he doesn’t know the city, he never goes anywhere without his cell phone for directions, communication,” Sasaki explained.
He added: “It’s just very suspicious to me. Because whichever the scenario is— whether he left on his own, the money is still here, or if he was followed and taken, the money is still here.”
It appears that fears for Moriyasu were misplaced, with LVMPD officials stating only that he had been found safe but refusing to give additional details.
