[Scoop!] Exclusive: “Latest Photos” of Ryuji Yoshioka, Boss of Japanese Criminal Organization “JP Dragon,” in Detention

The tragic present-day state of a crime syndicate leader

Here is a photograph. A man dressed in shabby attire—a wrinkled gray T-shirt, shorts, and plastic slippers—stares at the blood on his palm.Circled in the photo, the back of his head bears a large wound—as if he’d been attacked by a bear—with a gaping hole that has torn out a clump of hair. In this state, there is no trace of the man who once reigned over the Philippine underworld.

Led by Ryuji Yoshioka (56), “JP Dragon” is a Japanese criminal organization based in the Philippines that made its money through fraud, extortion, and protection rackets targeting restaurants and other businesses. Around 2019, it absorbed part of the “Luffy Group”—which later carried out a series of large-scale robberies—and expanded its operations.The criminal proceeds earned by “JP Dragon” to date amount to 10 billion yen, and Yoshioka alone is said to have pocketed a staggering 4 billion yen.

He lived a life of luxury while evading investigation by bribing police and immigration officials, but in June of last year, he was finally apprehended by Philippine authorities. He is currently being held at the Bicutan Detention Center.

The photo above is a recent image of Yoshioka that I obtained through several sources, including a Filipino woman. The photographer reportedly quipped, “Yoshioka might get killed.” What exactly is happening to the head of this once-mighty criminal organization that reached the height of its glory?

“Yoshioka was also involved in legal cockfighting gambling known as ‘Sabon,’ and he was soliciting investments under the pretense of ‘creating a system for online cockfighting.’ Since Yoshioka had strong connections in Philippine political and business circles, as well as with the police, we trusted him and invested—but it turned out to be a scam,” said one investor.

Among the investors was a Chinese mafia group operating in the Philippines, which was furious at being deceived. They sought revenge by enlisting Chinese inmates at Bicutan. The reward amount was determined by the severity of the beating inflicted on Yoshioka, and those who killed him were reportedly promised up to 10 million yen.

“It wasn’t a threat—they were seriously commissioning Yoshioka’s murder. Inside the detention center, there are plenty of people who would carry out the killing if they were paid,” said one detainee.

It is said that these photos were taken as proof to claim the reward.

Yoshioka (third photo), who had previously lived a life of luxury and was plump, had thus become emaciated, looking like a completely different person. As the assaults escalated, Yoshioka sought help from the guards and fled to solitary confinement.Solitary confinement is normally a punitive measure—a confined space surrounded by bars. It is ironic that those very bars are now protecting Yoshioka’s life.

Even so, perhaps anticipating a severe punishment back in Japan, Yoshioka is reported to have said, “I don’t want to go back to Japan.” Yoshioka is facing trials in the Philippines related to fraud and other charges, and there is currently no prospect of his deportation.

Days spent with his life on the line as a 10 million yen bounty—such was the fate of the man who once ruled the Philippine underworld.

From the July 17 & 24, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*