Yamaguchi-gumi No. 2 Appears in Asakusa in Broad Daylight: Why the Top Executive Visited a Long-Established Kanto Yakuza Group With Inagawa-kai Leaders

Investigators rushed in from across the country

Tokyo in mid-June, just before the start of the rainy season, was blessed with clear skies that felt more like midsummer. In the kind of heat where simply standing still caused sweat to cling to one’s clothes, a group of rugged men wearing suits and ties stood motionless in formation outside the headquarters building of the criminal organization the fifth-generation Kokusuikai, located in a residential area of Asakusa, Taito Ward.

Around them, more than 20 investigators from the local Asakusa Police Station, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the Kanagawa Prefectural Police, and the Hyogo Prefectural Police stood guard, keeping a close eye on people entering and leaving the building. From early morning, an unusually tense atmosphere had filled the area.

“He has arrived!”

Just after 11 a.m., a particularly loud voice broke through the tense silence. Stepping out of the lead vehicle in a convoy of three luxury cars was none other than Teruaki Takeuchi (66), the wakagashira (second-in-command) of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest organized crime group.

The assembled members immediately called out, “Thank you for your hard work!” in greeting. With a stern expression, Takeuchi entered the building.

“The sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi holds the ‘Sansha Shinkōkai’ (Three Organizations Friendship Association) three times a year on a rotating basis with its allied groups in the Kanto region, the Inagawa-kai and Matsuba-kai. On this day, the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi was the host.

Since the fifth-generation Kokusuikai is a direct-affiliated organization of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, it provided the venue for the gathering.

As the name suggests, this meeting is an occasion where several senior executives from each organization have lunch together and strengthen their relationships. The top leaders do not attend.

Traditionally, it was rare for the wakagashira of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi to attend, but since Takeuchi assumed the position in April last year, he has attended every time. In addition to the Sansha Shinkōkai, he has also actively engaged in diplomacy with other organizations, including serving as a representative observer (atomini-nin) at succession ceremonies for allied groups in the Kanto region and Fukuoka Prefecture.”

(said a journalist familiar with the Yamaguchi-gumi)

About 20 minutes later, a convoy from the Inagawa-kai arrived, followed shortly afterward by a convoy from the Matsuba-kai. Four senior executives from the Inagawa-kai and four senior executives from the Matsuba-kai attended. The Sansha Shinkōkai was held for about 30 minutes starting shortly after 11:30 a.m.

After 12:15 p.m., executives from the Inagawa-kai left the building first, followed by executives from the Matsuba-kai. Takeuchi was the last to appear.

Walking slowly, Takeuchi got into his vehicle and left the building. The gathering appeared to have concluded without incident.

An increasing number of organizations adopting the “sōsai system”

The journalist mentioned earlier explains Wakagashira Takeuchi’s actions.

“More than a year has passed since Takeuchi became wakagashira. He has not only actively pursued diplomacy with other organizations, but has also been working internally. It appears that he has carried out personnel changes to bring younger members into the executive leadership and increased the frequency of executive meetings to once a week. The organization’s reforms are being pushed forward rapidly.”

What lies behind his active efforts both inside and outside the organization?

“He is aiming to realize the peaceful coexistence of the yakuza world advocated by Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi boss Shinobu Tsukasa (84). In September last year, Wakagashira Takeuchi handed over his position as head of the Kōdō-kai to current chairman Masahiro Noumi, creating a structure that allowed him to focus solely on directing the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi.

Since then, what has been increasing among subordinate organizations of the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi is the introduction of the ‘sōsai system.’ This is a system in which the previous leader remains within the organization as sōsai (chairman/adviser) and helps operate it together with the next generation, with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition of leadership.

It was originally introduced by adviser Kiyoshi Takayama (78) when he was serving as wakagashira of the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi. The person who observed this system closely at the time was Wakagashira Takeuchi, who had already been a close aide. Under his own leadership as wakagashira, five organizations have adopted the sōsai system.”

(said the same source)

Meanwhile, even after the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi unilaterally submitted a written pledge declaring the end of the conflict in April last year, police authorities have not lifted the designation of the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, Ikeda-gumi, and Kizuna-kai as designated organized crime groups involved in a triple specified conflict.

Wherever Wakagashira Takeuchi goes, a security presence believed to be stronger than ever before has been put in place.

In July, the annual event will take place in which the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi’s affiliated and allied organizations from across Japan visit the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi to offer seasonal greetings.

As the seeds of conflict continue to smolder, organizational reforms within the Sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi are still ongoing.