The Kawaguchi Dragons and Their Yakuza Connection: How a Single Order Sparked Violence

Put some spirit into it

In a quiet residential neighborhood at night, several motorcycles spread out across both lanes of the road. The riders ignored traffic lights, raised their middle fingers, and weaved through the streets to provoke the police vehicles chasing behind them.

By September 30, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police had referred 10 boys aged 15 to 17 to prosecutors for violating traffic laws in connection with the reckless riding that took place in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, in December 2024. They also arrested Ryūshi Ebizuka (34), an executive of a subsidiary group under the designated crime syndicate Sumiyoshi-kai, on the same charge for allegedly giving the orders.

When Ebizuka appeared before reporters on September 30 during his transfer to the prosecutors’ office, he furrowed his brow deeply and scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze before quietly boarding the bus.

Around 9 p.m. on December 9 last year, Ebizuka gathered 24 delinquent youths at Toneri Park in Adachi Ward and ordered them to commit reckless acts, saying, “Patrol the area in three groups. You guys are being disrespected, so put some spirit into it,” while showing them a map displayed on his smartphone.

“The boys who call themselves the ‘Kawaguchi Dragons’ are based in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. In addition to their group riding sprees, they’ve repeatedly committed robberies and extortions. The Saitama Prefectural Police had been monitoring their movements as part of what they call the Tokuryū group. There seem to be several factions, but Ebizuka, a gang member, got involved because he knew the group’s leader, acting as their so-called ketsumochi—a gang backer who provides protection and connections.

In the area around Adachi Ward, rival groups also engaged in reckless riding, so Ebizuka reportedly instructed the boys to patrol and intimidate them, saying, ‘If you spot any enemies riding bikes, pick a fight with them.’ Police are currently investigating the backgrounds of these rival groups as well,” said a reporter from the social affairs desk.

According to police questioning, the boys admitted their involvement, saying things like, “We did it about five times on his orders,” and “Running red lights and getting chased by the cops was fun.” Ebizuka, on the other hand, has remained silent.

Delinquent youths turning into Tokuryū members

Since the Showa era, it wasn’t uncommon for gang members to collect tribute payments and act as ketsumochi—protectors—of biker gangs. For members of these biker gangs, joining a yakuza organization afterward was the standard path; the relationship between graduates (gangsters) and active members (bikers) was inseparable. However, things seem to have changed in recent years. A writer familiar with such incidents explains:

“In an incident in September 2024 in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 26 biker gang members were arrested. Behind them was a yakuza member. Of the two groups arrested, one was actually formed at the request of this gangster, who told them, ‘I’ll look after you, so make a team.’

These days, instead of the massive gangs of the 1980s, most cases involve a handful of local delinquents riding recklessly together.

Gang members are increasingly acting as ketsumochi for these delinquents—not only collecting tribute payments from them but also using them as their hands and feet to carry out Tokuryū-type crimes. It’s not uncommon for yakuza members to be arrested in connection with Tokuryū crimes, such as special fraud schemes. The delinquent youths themselves have effectively become organized criminal groups—Tokuryū.”

In response, as of October 1, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established a “Headquarters for Countermeasures Against Anonymous and Fluid-Type Crime Groups” and created a new “Special Investigation Division” within its Criminal Affairs Department to strengthen investigations into Tokuryū-type crimes.

This latest incident may well be a glimpse into the evolving and increasingly complex nature of Japan’s antisocial groups.