Yamaguchi-gumi’s Kiyoshi Takayama Calls Emergency Meeting with Top Bosses Following Feud Conclusion Declaration
“The Yamaguchi-gumi moves forward! Move forward, and nothing else!”
In a deep, commanding voice before the gathered direct affiliate bosses, it was Takayama Seiji, the Wakagashira (Number Two) of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi (77), who roused the crowd. On April 8, an emergency meeting of direct-affiliate bosses was held at the headquarters of the Eleventh Generation Hirai Ikka, a secondary organization under the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi. The reason Takayama Wakagashira delivered this rallying cry in such an unusual assembly where all direct affiliates were summoned was because of a major development in the near-decade-long Yamaguchi-gumi Split Conflict with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.
“On April 7, several top executives from the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, including Headquarters Chief Morio Utao, visited the Hyogo Prefectural Police and submitted a written pledge concerning the end of the split conflict. This effectively served as a declaration of cessation. The conflict, which began in August 2015, was approaching its tenth anniversary this summer. At the time of the split, the power balance between the two factions was roughly two-to-one, but by the end of last year, the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi had about 3,300 members compared to the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi’s approximately 120 — a gap of nearly 27 to 1.
Despite the clear disparity in strength, Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi boss Inoue Kunio (76) has remained barricaded in his home, refusing to engage in behind-the-scenes peace talks. The conflict was expected to stretch beyond the symbolic ten-year mark this August, but now that the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi has made a unilateral declaration of cessation, the situation has suddenly become unpredictable,” explained a journalist well-versed in Yamaguchi-gumi affairs.
The contents of the rallying cry delivered before the direct affiliate bosses
Since this was an emergency meeting held the day after visiting the Hyogo Prefectural Police, Wakagashira Takayama himself reportedly spoke to the assembled direct-affiliate bosses about the future.
“At the meeting, it was conveyed that no sanctions would be imposed on those who had left the organization, and that no disputes would be permitted going forward. On top of that, Wakagashira Takayama called on everyone to keep moving forward without stagnation. It’s said that the succession of direct-affiliate groups was also announced at the meeting, with the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi now shifting its focus to building a next-generation structure, treating the split conflict as a closed chapter.
However, law enforcement does not consider the conflict to be over based solely on this declaration. There has been no announcement from the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, and authorities will continue to closely monitor both sides’ movements. It’s unlikely that pressure from the authorities will ease immediately,” said an investigative source.
The Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi is trying to forcibly bring an end to the decade-long split conflict. For Wakagashira Takayama, who has consistently led from the front lines since his release from Fuchu Prison in 2019, ending the conflict has been one of his personal mandates.
Yet, even after concluding the emergency direct-affiliate bosses’ meeting and heading home, Wakagashira Takayama’s expression remained stern. Perhaps no one understands better than he does that merely issuing a one-sided declaration does not mean the conflict is truly over.
“FRIDAY GOLD” also provides detailed coverage, with photos, of the “Big Three Yakuza Talks” that took place behind the scenes of this conflict-ending declaration.
PHOTO： Tomoyuki Hanai
