Former Detective Reveals the Yakuza’s Favorite Pick for Seventh-Generation Leader

Akiya Hirano (53), a former Metropolitan Police Department police inspector, joined the force in 1993. For approximately 24 years, he investigated crimes committed by organized crime groups, hangure (loosely organized criminal groups), and other antisocial forces, working in the Fourth Organized Crime Division and the Anti-Boryokudan Division, among others. A highly skilled former detective, he received 14 Superintendent General’s Awards, as well as numerous awards from the Criminal Affairs Department and Organized Crime Control Department. Here, he reveals what is happening in Japan’s underworld today.

In March this year, Daisuke Jimbo, a former assistant police inspector in the Anti-Boryokudan Division who leaked investigative information to Natural, was found guilty. Some time afterward, I received a direct message on Instagram from someone whose profile picture was Toru Amuro, a character from “Detective Conan.”

It was Jimbo.

[Click here for Part 1] “What’s Happening in Japan’s Underworld Today”: Former Metropolitan Police Detective from the Fourth Organized Crime Division Goes Public, Revealing Names and Showing His Face!

A senior natural executive after his conviction

Jimbo asked me, “Did you leave the Metropolitan Police Department?”

I replied, “I did. What have you been doing since then? Have you found a job? Did you go back to your hometown?”

He answered:

“I’ve secured an advisory position.”

I left the Metropolitan Police Department in autumn 2025 to pursue a long-held dream. Since then, I’ve been earning a living through work such as producing videos about measures to combat special fraud. I was also interested in becoming an adviser to a company where I could put my police expertise to use, but securing such a position generally requires strong personal connections or an introduction.

Yet Jimbo claimed to have taken up an advisory post not long after being convicted.

“That’s impressive. Which company?”

He replied:

“It’s in the real estate sector.”

Then, some time later. Around July, I received messages from two separate sources: a former police officer and one of my own informants.

“Jimbo has become a senior executive at Natural.”

There were also several similar posts on X.

That reminded me that Natural operates its own real estate company.

Although it has built an organization modeled on a legitimate corporation, it is still an antisocial organization. Its members do not pay taxes and have no withholding tax statements. They cannot pass rental screening, so they are unable to rent homes and have nowhere to live. I had heard that they had therefore set up their own real estate company.

“I’m not the only one [among investigators leaking information].”

Jimbo’s words during his trial came back to me.

If someone who once worked on investigations at the same Metropolitan Police Department as I did had gone on to become an executive in a tokuryū group, it would be deeply disappointing. I believe the Metropolitan Police Department has already obtained this information, but I also made sure to report it.

Like Jimbo, when I was still on active duty, I was in daily contact with members of the organized crime groups under investigation. Once, in the height of the midsummer heat, I took ice cream to a gang office, only to be confronted at the entrance by a young member who demanded, “Who the hell are you?” Later, that young man was beaten up by his boss.

Through my repeated dealings with gang members, one thing that struck me was the popularity of Miki Ando (71), head of the second-generation Takenaka-gumi.

The boss himself lived frugally, even cutting back on his food expenses. Because the members saw this firsthand, they couldn’t afford to live extravagantly either. The group’s money-making activities also steered clear of fraud and drugs, which helped maintain discipline within the organization. As a result, he also had the support of legitimate business owners, including those in the construction industry.

The Yamaguchi-gumi split and candidates for its seventh leader

Ando’s achievements in the Yama-Ichi War, considered the largest gang conflict in the history of the Yamaguchi-gumi, are also recognized by Shinobu Tsukasa (84), the sixth-generation boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi. One famous episode involved firing a rocket launcher at the home of the Ichiwa-kai chairman in retaliation for the simultaneous deaths of Masahisa Takenaka, the fourth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi boss, and his second-in-command, Katsumasa Nakayama.

After serving time in prison for his involvement in the incident, Ando was promoted to vice chairman of the third-generation Isshin-kai, a direct subordinate organization (second-tier group) of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi. This was presumably proof that his contributions to the Yama-Ichi War had been recognized. The second-generation head of this Isshin-kai was the well-known gang boss Masahiko Kawasaki. In this underworld, people are judged by whom they have stood with and how faithfully they have fulfilled their obligations. Ando has an impeccable record and is highly regarded.

Currently, Teruaki Takeuchi (66), the second-in-command of the sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, is widely viewed as a leading candidate to become its seventh boss. He heads the Kodo-kai, the organization from which the sixth-generation boss himself emerged, and has the backing of Kiyoshi Takayama (79), an adviser who enjoys Tsukasa’s deep trust. For that reason, some describe his succession as a foregone conclusion.

On the other hand, there are undoubtedly people who question the continued concentration of power in the Kodo-kai.

Since the sixth-generation leadership took over, fundraising has become increasingly severe. In addition to a monthly membership fee said to be ¥1 million, direct subordinate group bosses are more or less forced to buy everyday necessities, such as toilet paper, from headquarters. The price is left to their discretion. Many groups end up spending more than ¥2 million a month when the membership fee is included. On top of that, they must pay for midyear and year-end gifts to the sixth-generation boss, as well as birthday presents.

The severity of these financial burdens was one factor behind the Yamaguchi-gumi split. If the Kodo-kai leadership continues, there is a possibility the organization could split again. How this possibility is taken into account will be crucial.

My assessment is that we cannot rule out Ando as a candidate.

The sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi unilaterally declared an end to its conflict with the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, which had been its rival. The Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi has been designated a Specified Conflict Designated Boryokudan, preventing it from engaging in conspicuous activities. Its financial strength has also declined: the powerful and militant Yamaken-gumi, once its largest faction, has left, and the assets of its boss, Kunio Inoue (78), have been seized. I hear that Inoue now goes everywhere with younger gang members acting as bodyguards. Tsukasa must have judged that continuing the conflict was no longer feasible.

The sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi also has reason to want its Specified Conflict Designated Boryokudan status lifted, given the enormous cost of renovating its headquarters. I am watching closely to see what happens at the December Kotoshi Hajime ceremony, before Tsukasa reaches the milestone age of 85.

From the November 6, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”