Why did Shomei Takeuchi, a young leader of the Yamaguchigumi VI, appear in “Yokohama in broad daylight”?

Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture in late February was blessed with mild weather reminiscent of the first day of spring. Just after 11:00 a.m., a tense atmosphere suddenly prevailed in Shin-Yokohama Station, which was bustling with businessmen and inbound tourists in a hurry to get to work. A group of strong men in ties and suits emerged from the Shinkansen ticket gate. Leading the way was Shomei Takeuchi, 66, the number two in the Yamaguchigumi VI. Surrounding him, investigators from the Kanagawa Prefectural Police are on guard. The station was enveloped in a strange tension.

What was going on at Shin-Yokohama Station, one of the most important terminal stations in the Kanto region?

The purpose of Wakao Takeuchi’s visit was to attend a Sansha friendship meeting at Inagawa Kaikan, the base of the Inagawa-kai, located in the suburbs of Yokohama City. The Yamaguchigumi VI holds fellowship meetings three times a year with its relative groups Inagawa-kai and Matsuba-kai, which have their headquarters in the Kanto region. The host rotates, and this time it was the Inagawa-kai. The four most senior members of each group, from the number two position on down, attend the meetings to literally deepen friendship over lunch,” said a journalist familiar with the yakuza industry.

A total of about 20 investigators from the Kanagawa Prefectural Police, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and the Hyogo, Gunma, and Ibaraki prefectural police departments were on standby in front of the venue, Inagawa Kaikan, from early in the morning. Each time the huge steel doors of the hall opened and closed, the cars entering and leaving the hall were strictly checked.

Inagawa-kai members lined up to greet the visitors.

I see you!

It was a little after 11:30 a.m. when the convoy of cars carrying the young Takeuchi and others arrived at the Inagawa Kaikan, accompanied by the voices of welcoming Inagawa Kai members.

As the Inagawa-kai members lined up inside the hall to greet them, Waka-ta Takeuchi got out of the back seat of the car and entered the hall, exchanging words with Inagawa-kai President Tomeyoshi Sadakata and others who were waiting to welcome them, his expression softening, perhaps because it was a regular meeting. At about the same time, a convoy of vehicles from the Matsuba-kai also arrived. The social gathering began at around 11:45 am.

As usual, it seemed to be held with only members of the three organizations in attendance while eating the catered lunches that had been prepared. From the Yamaguchigumi VI, under the leadership of Wakao Takeuchi, General Manager Noboru Yamashita, Assistant Wakao Mitsuo Sato, and Executive Officer Shizuo Sugiyama. From Matsuba-kai, there are four members including President Koji Seki, and from the welcoming Inagawa-kai, there are four top executives including President Sadakata. After lunch at 12:20 p.m., the attendees, including Wakao Takeuchi, came out of the hall after the dinner” (photographer covering the event).

Accompanied by Chancellor Sadakata, Takeuchi Wakao came out of the hall, exchanged a few words with a rare smile, and got into the shuttle car. He left the hall amidst the greetings of the lined-up gang members. The Matsuba-kai executives followed in the car, and the meeting ended without delay at 12:30 pm.

One year has passed since his appointment

This April marks one full year since WAKAGUCHI Takeuchi assumed the position of WAKAGUCHI. The relaxed and calm expression he showed at the meeting was something that FRIDAY Digital, which has been covering him for many years, has not seen often.

The journalist mentioned above said, “I think he is proud that he has been able to carry the heavy responsibility as the young leader throughout the year.

The former head of the Wakagashira, advisor Seiji Takayama (78), who was feared as an “absolute commander,” still has a strong influence in the organization. Under his influence, he has decisively carried out personnel reforms, including the rejuvenation of the executive committee, and outside the organization, he has been involved in not only diplomacy with other organizations, as was the case this time, but also in the recent unexpected funeral ceremony for former Goto boss Tadamasa Goto. He also visited the funeral of former Goto clan leader Tadamasa Goto as a representative of Shinobu Tsukasa and fulfilled his duty. The solid foundation of the “Takeuchi Wakatou System” is steadily being built. Although it is still in the middle of the road, I think that the experience of having held an executive position for a year has given him some leeway.

On the other hand, there is a strong voice in the neighborhood that “the state of war with the Kobe Yamaguchigumi is by no means over.

The declaration of the end of the war last April was a unilateral submission of a written pledge to end the war to the police authorities. In the form of forcibly putting an end to the period, three groups, including the Kobe Yamaguchigumi, with whom we have been in conflict, have not yet reported their dissolution, and the police have not lifted the designation of the three groups and the Yamaguchigumi VI as designated gangs for specific conflicts. The current situation of “triple designation” remains unchanged. Yamaguchigumi VI may have an intention to make the end of the conflict an established fact by continuing to meet with other organizations in a dignified manner, as they did this time.

While the eerie tension and the strict vigilance of the police authorities continue, the Yamaguchigumi VI is building the foundation of the Takeuchi young leader system. Some in the industry are whispering, “Beyond that, there may be a succession of the 7th generation in the near future. This April, the young Takeuchi regime will enter its second year, with “a sense of upheaval” in its midst.