Group Leader Shinobu Tsukasa Participates in Person: Footage Captures the 6th-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi’s “Proactive Diplomacy with 10 Prominent Organizations”

“Summer Greetings” with related and allied groups, including the Inagawa-kai, were held again this year

In a residential neighborhood of Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, the leaders of the two major organizations in the underworld met face-to-face.

On July 3, amid security measures by local investigators from the Aichi and Hyogo Prefectural Police, five top executives from the Sumiyoshi-kai visited the headquarters of the Hirai-ikka, a second-tier affiliate of the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi. Shinobu Tsukasa (84), leader of the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi, personally welcomed them, marking the start of “diplomatic” talks between the two organizations.

“Every year, the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi gathers the leaders of its affiliated and friendly groups to hold a ‘seasonal greeting’ ceremony. This event is considered the underworld’s equivalent of a midsummer greeting, and nine groups from across the country—including the Inagawa-kai—visited to offer their greetings.

Although the Sumiyoshi-kai, the tenth group to attend, is not officially classified as a related or friendly organization, the two groups have rapidly deepened their ties in recent years, and the Sumiyoshi-kai has been participating in these ‘seasonal greetings’ as well. The Sumiyoshi-kai is currently in a state of turmoil, with its chairman under arrest and absent from the organization, but on this day, its top executives—including the chairman’s assistants—visited as a group.“Although the visit lasted only about 15 minutes, they reportedly discussed recent developments on both sides,” said a journalist familiar with the Yamaguchi-gumi.

The fact that Group Leader Tsukasa personally saw off the Sumiyoshi-kai executives as they departed suggests that the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi regards the Sumiyoshi-kai as an important partner. Group Leader Tsukasa, the only one wearing an all-white suit from head to toe, stood out even more (top photo).

The backdrop to this proactive diplomatic outreach is believed to be the declaration ending the “split conflict” with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, which the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi submitted to the Hyogo Prefectural Police last April. Since then, the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi has been pushing forward with internal reforms under Vice-Chairman Shomei Takeuchi (66), and on June 19, an unusual personnel decision was announced.Masahiro Nouchi (60), chairman of the 4th-generation Kodo-kai—who had only recently been promoted to an executive position within the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi in March—was appointed to the key post of “Deputy Head of the Chubu-Tokai Block.”

Atsushi Mizoguchi, a nonfiction writer knowledgeable about organized crime, views the move as “a personnel decision with an eye toward the next generation of leadership.”

“This is a position that Vice-Chief Takeuchi also held, and I believe this appointment is intended to pave the way for his promotion to Assistant Vice-Chief.The Kōdō-kai is the parent organization of Group Leader Tsukasa, Advisor Seiji Takayama (78), and Wakagashira Takeuchi. By appointing its top leader to the position of Assistant Wakagashira, they likely aim to solidify the Takeuchi leadership structure. Beyond that lies the birth of the ‘Seventh-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi’ with Wakagashira Takeuchi as its boss.

The ‘Presidential System’—in which the boss is elevated to the post of president, allowing him to maintain influence while handing over operational management to the next generation—is being rapidly adopted by affiliated groups. Group Leader Tsukasa surely wants to push forward with the introduction of this system while he is still in good health. I expect the Seventh-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi to be established as early as this year, or by the first half of next year at the latest.”

Meanwhile, there are ominous signs surrounding the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, which continues to remain silent.

“In late July, a high-ranking executive—said to be the closest confidant of Group Leader Kunio Inoue (77)—will be released from Fuchu Prison after serving his full sentence. Rumors suggest this individual may be promoted to vice-leader, and authorities are stepping up their vigilance,” said the journalist mentioned earlier.

While the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi pursues an aggressive diplomatic strategy to solidify the organization, the embers of conflict continue to smolder.

From the July 31, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*