"We were very worried, but we're relieved now that we know it was an animal," a member of staff told the Mainichi, highlighting the anxiety over the missing shoes.
Prof Hiroshi Sasaki explained that the shoe-stealing weasel had probably just given birth and was likely using the shoes to line its nest for the winter.
Local police stated that, to their knowledge, this incident involving a weasel stealing children's shoes is unprecedented, marking a unique case.
In response to the thefts, the kindergarten plans to cover the cubbyholes with nets at night in a proactive crime prevention measure.
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