crime

Yamaguchi-gumi may be disbanding, police say

35 Comments

Police say Japan's largest yakuza gang, the Yamaguchi-gumi, may be on the verge of splitting up.

After rumors that the Yamaguchi-gumi, which is headquartered in Kobe, would be disbanding, information has now surfaced that a new clan will likely be be formed in Kobe City by a number of small sub-groups of former Yamaguchi-gumi members.

Top members of the gang gathered in Kobe on Friday to discuss the future of the syndicate, Japanese media reported.

The Yamaguchi-gumi is said to have about 23,000 members and 1,100 affiliated groups, according to the National Police Agency (NPA). The current leader is Shinobu Tsukasa.

The last time there was a split in the group was in 1985 and that was followed by nearly 300 shootings in the ensuing months.

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35 Comments
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Cue terminal internecine strife?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The last time there was a split in the group was in 1985 and that was followed by nearly 300 shootings in the ensuing months.

That's going to be terrible for Japan crime statistics. At least, usually, they don't harm innocent by standers in these cases.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Means more material for Beat Takeshi's Outrage series.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hey! Does this mean that the police will have something else to do besides harrassing foreigners for their IDs. If so, this is GREAT news for us!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Let's hope the Yamaguchi disbanding means more strife, which means the police will have something else to do besides checking our IDs. If so, the violence following the breakup will be good news for us.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

You know, the police could just go and arrest them all -- being illegal, knowing their names, residences, and activities and what not. Or would asking the police to do their jobs be asking too much?

5 ( +11 / -7 )

I hate to say it, but I prefer my crime to be organized thank you very much. The last time a major criminal organization went through "family problems" in this country, there was a rash of shootings all over the place. Furthermore, something that became readily apparent was that the average street thug was way behind in his weapons training. It was carnage. The plod were also found to be way out of their league.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This year's their 100th anniversary. I suspect it's a stunt to get more publicity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Interesting timing with the recent police raid at their HQ over the toxic gas leak at a waste disposal facility.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

don't believe it.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

TokyoReporter (love that site BTW) covers this news in greater detail.

Basically a significant portion of the Kansai sub-gangs were tired of funneling business through the head boss's favored organization. So they boycotted the big recent leadership meeting.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I assume that the Yakusa in Japan are treated the same has Bikie groups (Hell,s Angels. Rebels etc) in other countries. A law onto themselves

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

There is a good article on this today in the UK's Guardian website, with a lot of extra deail.

Bloodshed to follow, no doubt.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Police should realize that this Yakuza monster is just changing into a more lucrative organization in the form of the Uyoku (rightists). These gangsters are now enjoying changing their uniforms from black business suits to military attire and going around with their military music going full blast. These punks must be laughing as the Japanese police are scared of their new shape and form.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It's a paradox that groups which use guns and kill people is prevalent in a so called safe country......

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It's a paradox that groups which use guns and kill people is prevalent in a so called safe country......

The groups are prevalent, killing people, and using guns, is not.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@smithinjapan

the police could just go and arrest them all -- being illegal, knowing their names, residences

And why LA cops do not arrest, for example, all members of MS-13 or any other street gang? They know names, adresses, right? To be arrested one should commit some particular crime, not just "be a member" (and I suppose gangsters do not have "gangster club" member cards).

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Just off the top of my head, I can recall events in Kobe featuring Yakuza crime: Shoot outs in shopping malls, hotels, a beating of a trainee naval officer resulting in death, a yakuza pulling up in his car with his intestines hanging out in front of Kobe Red Cross,a yakuza with a gun on a train in Sannomiya harassing some lady- there was a police helicopter hovering over Sannomiya station for an hour! Some of the above were reported, some unreported but of those that were reported we might say that the same number of incidents were most likely unreported.....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They have 12,000 members - which includes 70+ 'heads' (or 'dons', if you will). They're not going anywhere.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In early 1980;s, It tried to advance to Kyushu to take over all Kyushu's gambling business. Prepared sinv 1970's by planting a none member but because this guy was quick tempered and loved to dtsrupt gambling business. Y's business was Kobe port business called Minato no Tehai-shi. The time was still when Yakuza meant gamblers. Why Kyushu? More traditional yakuza groups that catered coal mine owners. Y failed. Later, Taoka told it is not time to make living on gamble and told his tops to make everybody has business. But Y tried to expand to Chugoku area and failed. Y had money paying problems every time they had war against other yakuza groups, Too expensive. When peace meeting comes, it has to pay peace mediater, peace treaty warcher etc and can not attack any more. Unlije Y others are existing peacefully. Y tried to expand to Tokyo, almost but failed. So it is time now to disband. Their income has been draining and their members are with quick tempered no business people. Y cannot ignore violent members by saying There is no medicine to heal stupid (Baka ni ysukeru kusuri wa nai)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Yeah, they're breaking up.... but just like the Eagles and the Who, there will probably be interminable reunions.....

Why can't the Yaks be more like the Beatles?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@JohnBeckerAUG. 29, 2015 - 01:21AM JST ..... Why can't the Yaks be more like the Beatles?'

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Because none of them are cute. Only their body tattoo they show to hide their ugly face.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Public Announcement: "Police say Japan’s largest yakuza gang, the Yamaguchi-gumi, may be on the verge of splitting up." Public image confidence tactic to clean up for the 2020 Olympic hopefuls.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Police should realize that this Yakuza monster is just changing into a more lucrative organization in the form of the Uyoku (rightists). These gangsters are now enjoying changing their uniforms from black business suits to military attire and going around with their military music going full blast"

The Yaks timing is about right considering what Trump or Bush intends.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Asakaze:

"and I suppose gangsters do not have "gangster club" member cards..."

Their membership cards are only for platinum members. They give discounts at all the great stores. 100% off.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have a friend who's uncle is kanbo in Yamaguchi gumi. I hope his life insurance is paid up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Why can't the Yaks be more like the Beatles?"

I prefer jerrycurl to bowlcut.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Y-gumi members went Yokohama and doing pimping to create prostitute business and they tried to make one undercover police to be his customer and they were arrested. In Japan yakuzas do not attack members of other groups but Y-gumi differ. So when one of Tokyo yak was attacked notice went all over in Japan and Y-gumi was ostracized. When its member got trouble with another group, no one became mediater. There are more reasons since Kyusyu war but it seems that it has no place to go.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Normally here in Kobe when things are happening inside the yakuza the local police presence is ramped up big time, all of yesterday and today i have not noticed a thing and were right next to a yak office.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Just hope no bloodshed. Otherwise some foreign gangs would just watch amusingly J killing other J. Just sad if that happens. Hoping for a peaceful division. No matter what their existence is part and parcel of life on earth.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Don't think Japanese LEA so not have any knowledge of Yakuza movement in Japan. And real right wing (not we here csll conservatives). Y decided to become politics. Toseikai welcomed Y. Famous Japanese mousy women welcomed. Tama Morita, Taiko Hirabayashi etc. So almost succeeded except Tokyo's Anegasaki, Inagawa, Kyokuto groups did not stay back when their members were attacked violently. Almost Tokyo war but Y did not have enough weapons as their weapons were confiscated in Kyushu and weapons are not sold easily in Japan. Masuda gumi failed. They started to create Restaurants with to go but Yokohama people did not like Kpbe accented scarely workers. Yakuzas who want to involve in politicd first retire from yak (Ashi o Arau) and then politics. Y did not follow tradition. (niosku no waraji o haku) In Tokyo, Y cannot depend on Toseikai now. Y tried to ecpand to North but never succeeded. Nowhere to go.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yeah ALRIGHT !! let them kill each other to lessen if not eradicate underground groups.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because Y assasinated Ohsaka right wing DaiNIpponSeigiDan chiarman Yoshihiro Yoshida, in Ohsaka, it can no longer expect Right Wing Group back up in anywhere in Japan. And internal power struggle caused them to decide to split up. Other yakuza groups have been cautious not to be involved with Y and police authorities are very cautious of movement of Y's various functions. It is not Police authorities plan to let them kill each other as police are not cruel like some people who want them to kill each other.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Crazy world. A known gang of criminals who steal, abuse and kill are allowed to roam around freely yet deserted fathers guilty of nothing wrong are not allowed to see their children.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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