<figure id="attachment_449870" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1722px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449870"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="3f7c8219"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/de11914689d63cfd97ddcfa405296d66.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449870" class="wp-caption-text">Sumiyoshi-kai Chairman Ogawa Meets Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi Boss Tsukasa: What Was the Purpose?</figcaption></figure>
<h3>The Meaning Behind Tsukasa’s Smile</h3>
<p data-start="144" data-end="588">In early December, as the year’s end approached, a tense atmosphere filled the quiet residential area in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, surrounding the headquarters of the Eleventh Hirai Family, a direct affiliate of the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi. Dozens of investigators from the local Aichi police and the Metropolitan Police Department were stationed, their watchful eyes fixed every time the large gate shutter opened and closed.</p>
<p data-start="590" data-end="935"><strong>“A major Kanto-based organization, the Sumiyoshi-kai, led by Chairman Osamu Ogawa and top executives, visited the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi to extend seasonal greetings. Twice a year, in summer and around this time, affiliated and friendly groups from across Japan come to the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi for similar seasonal visits.</strong></p>
<p data-start="937" data-end="1252"><strong>On December 1, top leaders (some represented by proxies) from the Inagawa-kai, Matsuba-kai, and Soai-kai, all Kanto-based affiliates and friends, visited the direct Yamaguchi-gumi organization in Shizuoka City. On the 2nd, leaders from five friendly organizations in western Japan visited the Seto City affiliate.</strong></p>
<p data-start="1254" data-end="1492"><strong>Although the Sumiyoshi-kai is not a relative group, the close personal relationship between the previous chairman and Tsukasa Shinobu (83) has maintained friendly ties to this day,”</strong> explained a journalist familiar with the yakuza world.</p>
<p data-start="1494" data-end="1684">Shortly before noon, as the gate shutter opened, three cars arrived, with Tsukasa descending from the middle Mercedes-Benz, flanked by guards, to welcome Chairman Ogawa and his delegation.</p>
<p data-start="1686" data-end="2009">Around 12:30 p.m., the Sumiyoshi-kai delegation arrived. The shutter closed immediately, hiding the meeting from view, but when it reopened minutes later, Tsukasa was seen smiling warmly, conversing, and seeing them off. Tsukasa had also been present at the Kanto affiliates’ visit on the 1st, smiling throughout the day.</p>
<p data-start="2011" data-end="2417"><strong>“For the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi, which promotes peaceful coexistence in the yakuza world, these biannual visits symbolize diplomatic relations. This year, with the official end of the internal split conflict, marks a milestone year for the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi. Their diplomatic strategies with other groups will likely carry even more weight moving forward,”</strong> said the journalist.</p>
<p data-start="2419" data-end="2537">Tsukasa’s expressions over consecutive days suggested a sense of satisfaction that diplomacy had proceeded smoothly.</p>
<p data-start="2539" data-end="2750" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">The paid edition of FRIDAY GOLD includes extensive photos revealing the behind-the-scenes of the Sumiyoshi-kai seasonal visit, as well as an analysis of the ongoing split conflict with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.</p>
<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/article/386005" data-friday-gold-link-title="Approaching the chairman of Sumiyoshi-kai in a residential area in broad daylight... Aim of &quot;aggressive diplomacy&quot; by the leader of the Yamaguchigumi VI, Shinobu Tsukasa himself" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt="In early December, the footsteps of the New Year were approaching. The atmosphere around the headquarters of the Hirai Family XI, a direct affiliate of the Yamaguchigumi VI, located in a corner of a quiet residential area in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, blessed with fine weather, was tense from early in the morning. Local Aichi Prefectural Police, Metropolitan Police Department, etc." data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2025/12/893a06295c77e5a20e25ef266489b983-11133550350638.png/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=jt-EX4Iaq5qiW5DC1eo6IVBpSp6ZKzVO44lvEzUPT6WUOOPr4JKzD2XBAOnptWsQZ2UsIaJfdUuXjT18YJkWQ-4fmflSKgkj~Gtk9w3o5WMvTrZ9u6-GE3nZEPJr60CR97cmPVW1oLd5x3sSzh1HeJcBnyR-KnC4GLa9dCyAC7fHu8WcYNkm2U1XLc7houFSJNuBeQ4Rxee0Mq4qgSD~z3gn~mM60STV-MkpgDydUeDUzv~pNtC9Kl0n4fcLHu05QS8SALL9AUyzji0isJyUhBtu7vTHTyMs-0P7DvMRZWu9TnM474JSTessmDFqX9fWQLDsHoaFFfZy6LJ0WSXMrg__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2025/12/893a06295c77e5a20e25ef266489b983-11133550350638.png/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=N1u~7QpsApQwbQ5wbGHJ4-2C3RhgKwAeSqCjLkO~mFTXJZGT42BcFZM69nO01A3LRn6ZpCLRyPsh1J6xled2zqjn1N-ylPYnQ~-LE99KUlPesNaN1OeHuzVSEiYpxKM4f39o7FD6IMgdetYnF9QWeTn193UZImOjBidK4VHldYLI4FKiP4B7vVTzui5J6~gakOlyv99woFAg6bNj3kTpH5fwC7YhCgZqw0K0ynoqtdL8FjxEXuioAYGnlmEs~StKcB2Z09Zuvi4421LMphbwGJ~qFrFRyCDztClqakBKdRifxyy3M5r-gexZNfOkNTju18D3wjCddQSFkZIoZX7MvQ__"></div>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Executives of the Yamaguchigumi VI lined up in a row"></div>
<figure id="attachment_449912" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4512px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449912"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="61a3973f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/19d5d6c178febc5eac9ac8fb278cdb8d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449912" class="wp-caption-text">Senior executives gathered as investigators maintained a vigilant watch. The Hirai Family headquarters was enveloped in a tense atmosphere from early morning.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_449914" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1956px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449914"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c134dbd9"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/132d7be54ccc5822f7819c18604e2fd2.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449914" class="wp-caption-text">Takeuchi Terumitsu, Wakagashira (second-in-command), can also be seen in the background (center-right).</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_449915" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1816px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449915"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b36df448"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/2f0a84e2d17f4efd2f04149bf5233b20.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449915" class="wp-caption-text">Just before noon, the car carrying Kumicho Tsukasa arrived at the headquarters.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_449916" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1760px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449916"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e0e68a13"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/c1bdfa0e5fe9992e243ae56df36ac710.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449916" class="wp-caption-text">The senior executives bowed their heads to greet him.</figcaption></figure>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Oh, scary...Tsukasa's &quot;latest aura&quot; appearance"></div>
<figure id="attachment_449919" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1362px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449919"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="04432cc0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/bb4c493d3aa5f6498b3a2e8de674eee2.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449919" class="wp-caption-text">After the meeting, Kumicho Tsukasa came out to see them off.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_449922" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1630px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449922"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b0730ede"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/c88b0169f6148a86a2a65870ec44b605.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449922" class="wp-caption-text">He cast a brief glance at the press.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_449924" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1658px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449924"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="16c3480d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/3b580285c2f52930b01e81e9d0759535.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449924" class="wp-caption-text">The car, believed to be carrying the Sumiyoshi-kai delegation, departed from the headquarters.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_449923" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1902px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449923"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="52abbd51"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/6eee4513d30fc5cef8b290642c86e471.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449923" class="wp-caption-text">The diplomacy with the Sumiyoshi-kai concluded smoothly, and a sense of relief spread among the executives. The Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi’s proactive diplomacy is expected to continue.</figcaption></figure>
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 Masahiro Kawayanagi

 The top leaders of the two organizations met secretly in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, in broad daylight in early December. What was the purpose of the meeting? We report the inside story.

Yamaguchi-gumi Boss Shinobu Tsukasa Meets Sumiyoshi-kai Leader in Broad Daylight

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