Tsukasa Shimon’s Smile at Yamaguchi-gumi 20th Anniversary

Behind the safely completed birthday celebration

“Congratulations!!”

On January 25th, at 4:30 PM, a rough and biting cold wind blew through the suburbs of Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. Despite the chill, a deep, resonant voice echoed loudly. The one who received the warm welcome was Tsukasa Shimbara (83), the leader of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi.

Amidst the standing and motionless reception by executives, led by the Wakagashira (underboss) Kiyoshi Takayama (77), Shimbara, unusually, showed a smile. There was an air of composure that seemed impossible during the ongoing internal conflict.

“On this day, Shimbara participated in his birthday celebration held at the headquarters of a secondary organization. This year, he appeared in rare traditional attire. This summer marks 20 years since he received the successor’s cup as the leader. Furthermore, the ongoing ‘Yamaguchi-gumi split conflict’ with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi will reach its 10-year mark. Before this milestone, he likely wanted to present himself in a dignified manner to show he’s still in good health,” said a journalist well-versed in Yamaguchi-gumi affairs.

It’s an annual tradition to call in companions, blow out birthday candles on the cake, and hold a karaoke contest. This year, as evening arrived, the beautiful voices of members could be heard singing songs like “Sake to Namida to Otoko to Onna.”

The celebration concluded around 7 PM. After enjoying the event for about two hours, Shimbara’s face appeared slightly flushed.

While the birthday celebration ended peacefully, the frontlines of the conflict have been engulfed in a tense atmosphere since the new year. On January 19th, the house of Kunio Inoue (76), the leader of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, was set on fire. A passenger car was completely destroyed, and a light car was partially burned. The suspected perpetrators are believed to be a 75-year-old former executive from the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi’s secondary organization. Satoru Takegaki, a former leader of a Yamaguchi-gumi-affiliated gang and current representative of an NPO, speculates about the background of the attack.

“The former gang member had firebombs and even something resembling a gun when he entered Inoue’s house. The target was likely Inoue himself. Police who were guarding the area managed to subdue the assailant, but I believe Inoue must have felt intense fear,” Takegaki said.

The Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi is also pushing its offensive in secret. At the executive meeting in January, Koji Nakata (65), leader of the Yamaken-gumi, a former core organization of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi now under the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, was promoted to Wakagashira in less than three months after returning to the frontlines.

“The goal seems to be cutting into the younger members. The majority of the remaining 140 members of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi are from the Yamaken-gumi. They’re trying to get as many of the younger members to return to the fold by relying on Nakata, who has been promoted to an executive position. They’re likely pressuring Inoue, who is holed up at home, with various tactics,” Takegaki explained.

The smile Shimbara showed might be a sign of his confidence in the end of the conflict.

From the February 14, 2025 issue of ”FRIDAY”