Shomei Takeuchi Makes Tense Secret Visit to Notorious Yakuza with New Lieutenant

A residential area on high alert in the middle of the day

In late June, Tokyo was gripped by a streak of midsummer days, with temperatures surpassing 30°C daily. In a residential area of Taitō Ward, where the headquarters of the yakuza group Fifth-Generation Kokusuikai is located, about 20 well-built men in suits and ties stood in rigid formation.

“Thank you for your hard work!!”

Shortly after 12:30 PM, with the temperature pushing past 30°C, a figure emerged from the headquarters, prompting the lined-up senior members to shout their greeting in unison. It was none other than Shomei Takeuchi (65), underboss of the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest yakuza syndicate. Outside the building, more than a dozen investigators from the Hyogo Prefectural Police, Tokyo Metropolitan Police, and local precincts were on high alert.

From the morning, an air of tension hung over the area under the sweltering Tokyo sun. What exactly was going on?

“It was a tri-group gathering between the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi and two Tokyo-based friendly organizations, the Inagawa-kai and the Matsuba-kai. The Fifth-Generation Kokusuikai is one of the Yamaguchi-gumi’s direct affiliates in Tokyo, and this time, they hosted the event.

This gathering is a luncheon held three times a year, rotating among the three groups, to promote goodwill. Top bosses don’t attend. While Takeuchi used to participate regularly when he was an assistant underboss, this marked his first appearance since being appointed underboss in April, so all eyes were on whether he would show up,” said a source within the National Police Agency.

A journalist familiar with Yamaguchi-gumi operations explained why Takeuchi’s attendance was so closely watched:

“On April 7, the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi submitted a written pledge to the Hyogo police declaring the end of hostilities with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi. Shortly after, on April 18, Takeuchi was appointed underboss in an executive reshuffle. Every move he makes now carries greater significance in the underworld.

His attendance at the meeting is seen as a silent but powerful message to the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi. After the written pledge was submitted, then-underboss Kiyoshi Takayama (77) reportedly told all direct family heads things like ‘Do not coddle deserters’ and ‘The Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi will only move forward.’ Takeuchi’s actions seem to embody that very stance.”

Aim of having the new executive in attendance

Underboss Takeuchi arrived shortly before 11 a.m. He stepped out of a car parked in front of the headquarters and immediately entered the building. Upon leaving, he got back into a car that had pulled into the headquarters’ parking space.

“He seemed to be taking great care with his movements,” said a cameraman reporting on-site.

In addition to Underboss Takeuchi, the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi was represented by Headquarters Chief Utao Morio, Assistant Underboss Mitsuo Sato, Advisor Eiji Fujii (president of the Fifth-Generation Kokusuikai), and executive Toshio Takeshima — totaling five attendees. From the Inagawa-kai, Director-General Tomoyoshi Sadakata and three others attended, while the Matsuba-kai was represented by Director-General Takashi Seki and three others.

Normally, each group sends four representatives, but the Yamaguchi-gumi’s unusual decision to send five suggested both a silent show of pressure toward the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi and a glimpse into Takeuchi’s emerging leadership structure.

“Underboss Takeuchi brought along Assistant Underboss Sato and Executive Takeshima, both of whom were appointed in the second wave of executive appointments in May, following the April reshuffle. Notably, executive is considered a stepping-stone to joining the executive board. Takeshima and two others who recently took up that role are all capable young bosses who rose to direct status after the split conflict. Introducing these newly promoted leaders to allied organizations in Tokyo may have been a strategic move to further strengthen those relationships.

Assistant Underboss Sato, in particular, is said to have succeeded Advisor Fujii as the head of the Kanto bloc. He’s expected to be active on the frontlines, and with the new Takeuchi administration, the Yamaguchi-gumi’s influence in Kanto likely won’t diminish,” said the aforementioned journalist.

“Promoting the next generation” and strengthening alliances with friendly groups — the foundation of Underboss Takeuchi’s new regime is steadily being laid. This August will mark the 10th year since the split conflict began. Will the current stalemate continue — or something else unfold? A chilling tension still looms over the underworld.