Revealing the history of the “Yamaguchi Gang”, the number 1 Yakuza gang in Japan: PPTVHD36

Get to know the “Yamaguchi Gang”, the number 1 Yakuza organization in Japan with a history of more than 100 years, with descendants of up to 6 generations!

From the case of the murder and dismemberment of a Japanese man and then dumping the body to conceal in various places in the Bang Bua Thong area, Nonthaburi Province, until a 10-year-old child found the remains at the playground. Recently it was reported that The perpetrator was a Japanese person. Including the deceased They are members of “Yamaguchi Gang”, the number 1 Yakuza organization in Japan.

The Yamaguchi gang is one of the richest criminal organizations in the world. Billions of dollars are earned annually from extortion, gambling, the sex industry, arms trafficking, drug trafficking. real estate and construction bribery projects

That makes this Yakuza gang the most influential and largest in the Land of the Rising Sun. It also has a relatively old history. Because it’s been around for more than 100 years and has had 6 generations of leaders.

The Yamaguchi Gang or Yamaguchigumi (山口組) was founded in 1915, or the 4th year of the Taisho Era, by a man named Yamaguchi Harukishi, who at the time was a member of the Oshimaku Gang. Mi He formed the Yamaguchi Gang while still being under the authority of the Oshima Gang. The base is in Kobe city. Hyogo Prefecture and still remains in this city until now

Ten years later, he passed the leadership position to his eldest son, Yamaguchi Noboru, who expanded the gang’s influence into the entertainment industry. From the beginning there was only port maintenance, gambling, and roadside hawkers (tekiya).

And it was in Noboru’s generation that the Yamaguchi gang began to clash with the Oshima gang. Regarding the right to open a wholesale market in central Kobe Ultimately, in 1932, the Yamaguchi Gang separated and became independent, no longer being directly dependent on other gangs.

In 1940, Noboru had a conflict with the Kakotora gang (Goda clan) and was attacked and seriously injured. Until his death 2 years later

The Yamaguchi Gang was leaderless for about 4 years, until Taoka Kazuo was finally elected, a gang member who was not related by blood to the Yamaguchi clan. become a leader

Then from 1955-1974, Taoka operated “Operation Nationwide Invasion” or plan to expand influence to various parts of Japan, causing many conflicts and gang wars. Whether it is the Komatsushima conflict Meiyukai Conflict Tottori Conflict Hakata Event Hiroshima proxy war Matsuyama Conflict, etc.

Gang wars and annexation of various gangs allowed the Yamaguchi gang to quickly expand its power. Until 1975-1978, the Yamaguchi gang fought the Osaka War against the second generation Matsuda gang until it became a gang. The largest in Japan and Taoka is also called “Japan’s leader” even

Taoka died in 1981, while his designated successor, Yamamoto Kenichi, also died of illness. This caused Taoka’s wife to take the position of acting gang leader first. Until finally, the gang’s senior council voted to select Takenaka Masahisa from the Takenaka sub-gang. Became the 4th generation leader of the Yamaguchi gang in 1984.

Takenaka received the nickname The “Hungry Lion” has a patient personality and is not interested in luxury. I don’t like going anywhere. To the point that if possible, he never leaves the office. He likes to play shogi (Japanese chess). He has many women but has never accepted anyone as a wife. He once said that “Having children makes you connected to the world. Yakuza don’t want wives and children.”

However, Takenaka’s choice made some gang members unhappy. Especially in the Yamahiro and Kamota sub-gang. This caused these two gangs to separate from the Yamaguchi gang and form the Ishiwa gang. and wage war with the Yamaguchi Gang It became the Yama-Ishi conflict.

Takenaka dislikes having bodyguards, saying, “If people die, they die no matter what they do. If you eat a lot of food and are unlucky, you can die.” As a result, he was assassinated in 1985.

4 years after Takenaka’s death The Yama-Ishi conflict ended. And the Yamaguchi gang appointed Watanabe Yoshinori as the fifth generation leader, who in his era avoided confrontation with the police. and promote the expansion of influence through control and reason rather than violence. According to the advice of the next generation, Takumi Masaru (which many consider in practice Takumi is even more powerful than Watanabe)

In 1997, Takumi was assassinated. This left the Yamaguchi gang without a successor to the leadership position. Finally, in 2005, Wajanabe announced that he would step down from his position. And at the same time, the Elder Council chose Tsukasa Shinobu to be the leader of the 6th generation.

Under the leadership of Tsukasa The Yamaguchi gang has returned to expand its influence once again. And he was jailed in December 2005 for illegally possessing a gun. and was released in April 2011 after serving nearly 6 years in prison.

A major change for the Yamaguchi gang occurred in 2015, when the Kobe-based Yamagen gang. The Osaka-based Takumi Gang and the Kyoyu group has announced separation from the Yamaguchi gang and founded a new group called Kobe Yamaguchi Gang

This was the biggest breakup the gang had seen in decades. And both sides continued to have violent conflicts until they were wanted by the authorities. But in 2021, the Yamaten gang returned to join the Yamaguchi gang again.

Yamaguchi yakuza membership has steadily decreased since the 1990s, according to the Royal Thai Police. Between 1991 and 2012 the total number of gang members was 78,600, then in 2014 it dropped further to 23,400, and at the end of 2023 there were only around 3,500 active members.

Japanese Yakuza gangs are unlike organized crime groups in other countries. They have official headquarters buildings. Stick with the gang’s name and insignia honestly. The headquarters of the Yamaguchi gang is located prominently on Shinoharamachi Road, Nada District, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Compiled from Yakuza Wiki