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South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Japanese street gang Lucifers ends troublemaking days, disbands inside police station
A notorious street gang in central Japan has disbanded in a rare public ceremony held at a police station, a symbolic move that officials say could help break the cycle of youth violence – though some remain sceptical it will lead to lasting change. Advertisement About 30 members of the gang known as the Lucifers gathered on Sunday at Atsuta Police Station in Aichi prefecture, where they formally announced the group's dissolution after nearly three decades of notoriety in Nagoya's criminal underworld. The event was attended by gang members ranging in age from teenagers to men in their 50s, who stood in rows inside a police hall to deliver their pledge to 'never again cause trouble or distress' as well as to never re-establish the organisation. Police chief Masaki Suzuki, accepting the declaration, offered a message of encouragement. 'I officially accept the declaration of disbandment of the Lucifers today,' he said, according to Japanese broadcaster CBC News. 'I hope each of you will strive in your respective paths, whether in work or studies.' Lucifers, a Japanese street gang founded in the mid-1990s, has held an official ceremony to disband inside the Atsuta Police Station in Aichi prefecture. Photo: Handout Authorities said they welcomed the gesture but would continue to verify members' reintegration through monitoring and outreach support. Police plan to offer vocational training and social assistance, particularly to the younger members. Advertisement The dissolution comes in the wake of intensified law enforcement pressure on the group, including the arrest of 25 members since May. The gang's 47-year-old leader, Daisaku Odagiri, is currently on trial for assault, and had submitted a formal notice of disbandment to authorities late last year, according to SoraNews24.
SoraNews24
07-07-2025
- SoraNews24
Lucifers Japanese street gang holds official disbanding ceremony inside police station
Now-former gangsters promise to stop raising hell. Ordinarily, if two or three dozen gang members are all in a police station at the same time, there's been some sort of major bust or incident that resulted in them all getting swept up by the cops. On Sunday, though, around 30 members of the Lucifers street gang all walked into the Atsuta Ward police station in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and they did so of their own free will. They weren't there for questioning or to bail anybody out, either. Instead, they were at the police station to hold a ceremony officially disbanding the gang. The organization was founded in the mid-1990s, and operated in Atsuta Ward. Over the years, their numbers grew to approximately 500 members, and despite making numerous arrests for assault, theft, and other crimes, the police were unable to completely stamp them out. Law enforcement has stepped up their efforts in the past year, though, with arrests of 25 Lucifers since May of 2024, including that of the gang's 47-year-old leader, who's currently on trial for assault charges after being picked up in December. That same month, the gang's leader sent a written notice to the Aichi Prefectural Police's Atsuta branch, announcing the Lucifers' intent to disband. As the dissolution ceremony, attended by member ranging in ages from their teens to their 50s, Lucifers' final members vowed that they 'Will never again cause trouble or distress' and also pledged not to reestablish the organization. Atsuta Precinct chief Masaki Suzuki expressed his hope for them to follow through on those promises, telling the assembled group 'I want you to devote yourself to your individual work and studies,' and those in attendance expressed their desire to do so as well. 'I apologize for causing trouble for those around me. From now on, I will work hard at my construction job and try to redeem myself.' said one 19-year-old now-former Lucifer. Another 15-year-old added 'I've drifted away from my wholesome friends. I'm going to turn over a new leaf and keep studying at school and working at my part-time job,' so hopefully this turns out to be a case of life imitating the art of NES classic River City Ransom where gang members can return to class and become honor students. Source: Chunichi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun Top image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
