Inagawa-kai, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi Leaders Gather in Broad Daylight in Yokohama

Inagawa-kai President Kazuya Uchibori (left)

Kyokuto-kai President Hitoshi Takahashi (right)

The bosses’ expressions as they exchanged a firm handshake conveyed a sense of fulfillment.

In mid-July, an affiliated facility of the designated organized crime group Inagawa-kai in Yokohama was shrouded in an unusual tension in broad daylight. And for good reason: inside, a meeting that could be called a “Yakuza Summit” was taking place, with the top leaders of prestigious Kanto yakuza groups gathered together.

“This day was a gathering of the ‘Kanto Friendship Association,’ which consists of eight yakuza groups from the Kanto region. In addition to Kazuya Uchibori (71), president of the Inagawa-kai who provided the venue, other attendees included Sumiyoshi-kai president Shuji Ogawa and Eiji Fujii (78), president of the fifth-generation Kokusui-kai and advisor to the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi. They had their subordinates wait separately and talked for about 30 minutes with only the bosses present. The current organizational structure of the association has been in place since 2014, but this was the first time all the top leaders had gathered together,” said a journalist familiar with yakuza affairs.

After the meeting, President Uchibori saw off the other bosses with handshakes, as mentioned at the beginning. It seemed to be a harmonious meeting, with some even showing smiles.

Why was this summit, which hadn’t occurred in ten years, held this summer?

“It’s likely not unrelated to the fact that August marks the 10th anniversary of the split conflict within the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi. In fact, it seems that Takayama Seiji (76), the wakagashira of the sixth generation, made a special trip to Tokyo to help facilitate the meeting. This probably also played a role in building relationships with the major groups in Kanto,” said the same journalist.

As the milestone summer approaches, an eerie unrest is permeating the world of ninkyo (chivalrous) organizations.

 

 

Sumiyoshi-kai President Shuji Ogawa

From the August 9, 2024 issue of FRIDAY