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A Japanese court on Monday sentenced Toshiya Fujita, 41, to life in prison for his role in a series of robberies orchestrated by a crime ring operating from the Philippines, a group known by the moniker “Luffy,” after the popular manga character. The Tokyo District Court’s decision aligns with the demands of public prosecutors, marking the second life sentence handed down to a senior member of the organization.

Fujita was convicted of involvement in seven robbery cases across Tokyo and three other prefectures between October 2022 and January 2023, including a particularly egregious incident in Komae, Tokyo, where a 90-year-old woman died after being subjected to a home invasion. According to the court ruling, Fujita played a critical role in the group’s operations, controlling perpetrators by assessing their capabilities and issuing instructions from an immigration facility in the Philippines.

The trial centered on determining Fujita’s level of responsibility for the crimes, specifically whether he could be considered a co-principal. Presiding Judge Sakon Togari concluded that Fujita “played an essential role for the organization’s profit,” dismissing the defendant’s claim that he did not instruct the assault on the victim in the Komae case. The judge stated that Fujita carried out his duties for the common interest of the organization.

Prosecutors argued that Fujita directed the robberies remotely, and the court agreed, characterizing the crimes as a “new type of organizational crime carried out by remote control.” The judge noted the significant anxiety the robberies created within Japanese society. The defense had argued that Fujita was coerced into assisting with the robberies by other detainees at the immigration facility, claiming his role was limited to aiding and abetting. The court rejected this assertion.

This sentencing follows the July 2025 conviction of Tomonobu Kojima, 48, another senior member of the “Luffy” group, who received a 20-year prison sentence for his role in planning the robberies and recruiting participants. Kojima has appealed that ruling. Of the four senior members arrested and indicted, two have now been sentenced.

The court’s decision highlighted the unprecedented nature of the crimes, noting that Fujita issued instructions to perpetrators from overseas “without getting his own hands dirty,” demonstrating a disregard for human life and a lack of awareness regarding the brutality of the violence inflicted. The judge emphasized the immense impact and anxiety the crimes inflicted on Japanese society.

Fujita’s lawyer indicated they are considering an appeal of the life sentence. The investigation into the remaining members of the “Luffy” crime ring remains ongoing.

Recent research suggests that brain activity doesn’t cease immediately upon death, challenging long-held assumptions about the transition from life to death. Scientists are observing electrical activity in the brain continuing for minutes, and in some cases, hours after the heart stops beating, prompting questions about the nature of consciousness and the dying experience. This discovery is fueling a renewed scientific interest in what happens within the brain during the final stages of life.

The findings, emerging from multiple studies, indicate that the brain’s shutdown isn’t an instantaneous event. Instead, it appears to be a more gradual process, with continued neuronal firing even after clinical death. This challenges the traditional view of a rapid cessation of brain function and raises profound implications for our understanding of awareness and the subjective experience of dying. The research is prompting a reevaluation of how we define death and what it means to be conscious.

Unexpected Brain Activity Post-Mortem

Researchers have repeatedly observed that brain activity doesn’t immediately halt when the heart stops. A case study in Canada, detailed in research highlighted by EOS Wetenschap, involved an epilepsy patient undergoing continuous EEG monitoring. During the monitoring session, the patient died, but the EEG recording continued, capturing brain activity in the moments before, during, and after death. This provided a rare glimpse into the patterns of brain activity at the point of death. The recorded activity offered a unique insight into the brain’s final processes.

The observed activity isn’t random noise, but rather appears to involve coordinated neuronal activity. Researchers are investigating the nature of this activity and its potential relationship to conscious experience. While the exact function of this post-mortem brain activity remains unclear, it suggests that the brain isn’t simply “switching off” but undergoing a complex transition. The implications of this are significant, potentially altering our understanding of the biological basis of consciousness.

Near-Death Experiences and Brain Function

These findings align with anecdotal reports of near-death experiences (NDEs), where individuals who have been clinically dead report vivid experiences, including feelings of peace, out-of-body sensations, and encounters with deceased loved ones. Pim van Lommel, a cardiologist whose work is detailed by Studium Generale Universiteit Utrecht, has extensively researched NDEs, finding that approximately one in five patients experiencing cardiac arrest report memories of events that occurred while they were clinically dead. These experiences often include a sense of awareness and perception despite the absence of measurable brain activity according to conventional standards.

Van Lommel’s research suggests that these experiences aren’t simply hallucinations or the result of a dying brain, but rather a genuine form of consciousness that occurs during a state of clinical death. The universal elements of NDEs – such as the tunnel of light, encounters with deceased relatives, and a life review – are consistent across cultures and demographics, suggesting a common underlying neurological basis. The impact of these experiences on individuals is often profound, leading to significant personal transformations.

What Does This Imply for Our Understanding of Death?

The discovery of continued brain activity after death challenges the prevailing neuroscientific view that consciousness is solely a product of brain function. If consciousness can persist even after the brain has ceased to function in a conventional sense, it raises questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Researchers are exploring the possibility that consciousness may not be entirely dependent on the physical brain, and that it may exist independently, or in a different form, after death.

According to Psychologie Magazine, brain cells are proving to be more resilient than previously thought, not stopping immediately when the heart stops, but rather dying over several hours. This resilience suggests a more complex and prolonged process of brain shutdown than previously understood.

Further research is needed to fully understand the nature of post-mortem brain activity and its implications for consciousness. Scientists are employing advanced neuroimaging techniques to study the brain during the dying process, hoping to unravel the mysteries of what happens when we die. The ongoing investigation into this phenomenon promises to reshape our understanding of life, death, and the nature of consciousness itself.

The implications of these findings extend beyond the scientific realm, raising philosophical and ethical questions about the definition of death, the treatment of dying patients, and the potential for life after death. As research continues, it is likely to spark further debate and discussion about these fundamental questions.

What comes next will depend on continued research and the development of more sophisticated tools for monitoring brain activity during the dying process. The scientific community is actively pursuing these avenues of investigation, and further discoveries are expected in the coming years. Share your thoughts in the comments below.