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Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Yakuza Member Arrested for Illegally Possessing Knife in Car Trunk in Kitakyushu
A 59-year-old man affiliated with the Kudou-kai organized crime group was arrested in Kitakyushu on June 16 for illegally possessing a 16-centimeter knife in his car trunk. The suspect claimed he had forgotten to remove the knife after using it to cut watermelon at a friend's house two days earlier.

Quick Facts
Who
Mori Akira
What
Arrested for violating firearms and swords control law
When
June 16, 2026
Where
Kitakyushu city
- Arrested for violating firearms and swords control law
- Found with 16-centimeter knife in car trunk
- Knife was wrapped in newspaper
- Traffic stop by patrol officers
- Suspect displayed suspicious behavior when seeing police car
On June 16, police in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, arrested a 59-year-old man identified as a member of the designated dangerous gang Kudou-kai for violating Japan's firearms and swords control law. Officers conducting a patrol in the Kita-ku district stopped the suspect's light vehicle after noticing suspicious behavior when the driver saw the police car. Upon inspection of the vehicle's trunk, police discovered a knife with a blade approximately 16 centimeters long wrapped in newspaper.
The suspect, identified as Mori Akira, a self-described Kudou-kai affiliated executive residing in Kita-ku, was arrested on the spot. During questioning, Mori claimed he had used the knife to cut watermelon at an acquaintance's house two days prior and had simply forgotten to remove it from the vehicle afterward. He stated that he had purchased a watermelon and brought it to a friend's residence, taking the knife with him for that purpose, but neglected to remove it from the car after using it.
The arrest occurred around 3:50 p.m. on June 16 in the Ota-cho area of Kita-ku. The knife was the only weapon found during the search. Japan's firearms and swords control law prohibits carrying such weapons without legitimate justification, and police investigations into the circumstances of the incident continue.
Why This Matters
This arrest highlights Japan's strict enforcement of firearms and swords control laws targeting organized crime members. Even though the suspect claimed innocent negligence, law enforcement's proactive patrol and inspection practices demonstrate the ongoing effort to prevent weapons from circulating among Yakuza-affiliated individuals, reducing public safety risks in urban areas.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 14, 2026
WireSuspect used knife to cut watermelon at acquaintance's house
Jun 16, 2026
WirePatrol officers observe suspect's suspicious behavior and stop vehicle in Ota-cho, Kita-ku
Jun 16, 2026
WirePolice find 16-centimeter knife wrapped in newspaper in vehicle trunk
Jun 16, 2026
WireMori Akira arrested on suspicion of violating firearms and swords control law