<figure id="attachment_456891" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1884px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456891"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="51e977dc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/4ec86961dd4f76508f8b932ca356cd9a.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456891" class="wp-caption-text">Boss Tsukasa Celebrates Birthday at 84, Still Wields Immense Influence</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Listening with satisfaction to the karaoke performed by his subordinates</h3>
<p data-start="155" data-end="175"><strong>“They’ve arrived!”</strong></p>
<p data-start="177" data-end="599">Just after 4 p.m. on January 25, the front of the 10th Seto-kai headquarters—a direct affiliate of the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture—was wrapped in an unusual atmosphere. Executive members, including Wakagashira Terumitsu Takeuchi (65), stood in formation wearing black suits with white ties. Surrounding them, local Aichi Prefectural Police investigators maintained strict surveillance and security.</p>
<p data-start="601" data-end="844">After a loud announcement signaling the arrival of senior members, a black Mercedes-Benz, escorted by two security vehicles in front and back, entered the headquarters grounds. Slowly stepping out from the back seat was Boss Shinobu Tsukasa.</p>
<p data-start="846" data-end="1155"><strong>“This day marked Tsukasa’s 84th birthday. Last April, the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi submitted a unilateral pledge to the Hyogo Prefectural Police to end the conflict, putting a close to a decade-long feud. This was his first birthday celebration since the ceasefire. Advisor Kiyoshi Takayama (78) was also present.</strong></p>
<p data-start="1157" data-end="1411"><strong>Outside the headquarters, the sound of singing could be heard, indicating that a celebratory party with karaoke likely took place. The atmosphere suggested that the violent past was firmly behind them,”</strong> said a journalist familiar with the Yakuza world.</p>
<p data-start="1413" data-end="1669">Boss Tsukasa wore a black hat, sunglasses, and a scarf around his neck, adopting a casual and relaxed appearance. As the direct subordinates greeted him with tense expressions, he offered words of encouragement with a smile before entering the main hall.</p>
<p data-start="1671" data-end="2064"><strong>“The karaoke included songs such as Eigo Kawashima’s Sake to Namida to Otoko to Onna and Saburo Kitajima’s Kita no Ryoba. There was even a woman singing Seiko Matsuda songs. Companions were apparently brought in as well. After a van carrying them entered the grounds, the shutters were closed. Extreme care was taken so that no one could see who was inside,”</strong> said a photographer on site.</p>
<p data-start="2066" data-end="2275">According to the previously mentioned journalist, <strong>“At last month’s New Year’s kickoff, Boss Tsukasa had showcased his proud singing voice, but this time he seemed content just listening to everyone perform.”</strong></p>
<p data-start="2277" data-end="2609" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Just before 7 p.m., with karaoke still audible, Tsukasa left the hall accompanied by his executives. Without sunglasses, his slightly flushed face bore a smile. As his subordinates saw him off, he departed for home, followed by Advisor Takayama and Wakagashira Takeuchi. The birthday celebration concluded smoothly just after 7 p.m.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="New Personnel Changes Announced Early in the New Year"></div>
<h3>Appointment of Promising Young Clan Leaders</h3>
<p data-start="51" data-end="188">This year, voices from the underworld suggest that for the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi, this year might bring even more change than last year.</p>
<p data-start="190" data-end="607"><strong>“Last April, the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi unilaterally submitted a pledge to end hostilities to the authorities. Immediately afterward, then-Wakagashira (second-in-command) Adviser Kiyoshi Takayama appointed Takeuchi, who had been Wakagashira-hosa (assistant to the second-in-command), as his successor. Under Adviser Takayama’s influence, the foundation of the Takeuchi Wakagashira system has been steadily taking shape.</strong></p>
<p data-start="609" data-end="1103"><strong>On January 25, the same day as Kumicho Tsukasa’s birthday, personnel notices for the Keicho (Celebration/Funeral) Committee and the Organization Committee were communicated to affiliates. The Keicho Committee handles not only internal ceremonial matters but also diplomatic roles with other groups. Meanwhile, the Organization Committee is responsible for operational aspects in dealings with law enforcement, including confrontations with authorities, making both positions highly important.</strong></p>
<p data-start="1105" data-end="1615"><strong>Among the new appointments, one was named to the Organization Committee and four to the Keicho Committee. All five are promising young clan leaders who were promoted to the rank of &#8216;jikisan&#8217; (direct subordinate of the kumicho) just last year during a leadership succession. Moreover, four of the five were part of the succession under the &#8216;President System&#8217; introduced the year before last. This personnel move strongly signals that the process of generational change will continue”</strong> (Journalist cited above).</p>
<p data-start="1617" data-end="2010">Conflicts with rival groups such as the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi remain a reality. Police authorities have extended the designation of the 6th Yamaguchi-gumi and the three rival groups as designated boryokudan (organized crime groups under special supervision). None of the three rival groups have submitted dissolution notifications, and some have issued organizational policies for this year.</p>
<p data-start="2012" data-end="2117" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Amid this eerie silence, the foundation of the Takeuchi Wakagashira system continues to steadily advance.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Direct members lining up to await the head of the Tsukasa clan"></div>
<figure id="attachment_456885" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2142px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456885"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5dd98f8d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/923dcb7de2ddfde8014633b55581c4d9.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456885" class="wp-caption-text">Takeuchi Wakagashira (second from the left) and other executives await Kumicho Tsukasa.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456886" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2028px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456886"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="07cfec00"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/dae672b5302530c16f5e4811e04ac58f.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456886" class="wp-caption-text">Standing at attention in a straight line.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_456887" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1898px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456887"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="2b9731a9"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/f247b2ca8b54ad2b63efca110a13540f.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456887" class="wp-caption-text">Before 4:30 p.m., Mr. Tsukasa arrives.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456888" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1862px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456888"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f7873dc7"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/8d717175a1fdb1112886b40f74087ef6.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456888" class="wp-caption-text">Team members greet him.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456889" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2142px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456889"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b557f1fd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/c34c7593f99f31c5eda10d1a4d696d58.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456889" class="wp-caption-text">On this day, he wore a jacket with slacks, appearing relatively casual compared to the surrounding executives.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456890" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1878px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456890"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b5979ca0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/0744605ecd1c089b8c7a59035b89bee5.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456890" class="wp-caption-text">Guided by the executives, he entered the headquarters.</figcaption></figure>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead="Blushing...after the birthday celebration."></div>
<figure id="attachment_456994" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1950px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456994"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9e7b8c07"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/c0b388764a99aba8bf3f87b27c55dc6c.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456994" class="wp-caption-text">While the karaoke contest was still going on, Mr. Tsukasa came out of the headquarters one step ahead of the others.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456995" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1830px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456995"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0ee33e0a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/b759828eb623fb00c66cbf0cddd963b4.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456995" class="wp-caption-text">Escorted by Takeuchi Wakagashira and others, he headed home.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_456996" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1598px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456996"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="51f973dd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/b03a8c631018ed4fe0963f6b204c6a04.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456996" class="wp-caption-text">Afterward, Advisor Takayama and others also departed from the venue.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_456997" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 1596px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456997"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f09693ed"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/b63f0a9903b33dcc4277b6617c9c0ed6.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456997" class="wp-caption-text">Takeuchi Wakagashira and the other executives also gradually exited the venue. The birthday celebration concluded shortly after 7 p.m.</figcaption></figure>
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 Tomoyuki Hanai

 On January 25, a birthday celebration for Yamaguchigumi VI head Tsukasa Shinobu was held at the headquarters of the affiliated organization. In addition to direct advisors from all over the country, Advisor Takayama and Waka-atama Takeuchi also participated. We report the inside story of the event, which included a karaoke contest with companions.

Yamaguchi-gumi Boss Shigeru Tsukasa Celebrates Birthday with Karaoke and Nationwide Gathering of Lieutenants

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