The Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest syndicate of all Japanese mafia. Yamaguchi Harukichi (1881-1938) found the Yakuza in Kobe back in 1915. Where still today you can find its headquarters. Its area of power is the Kansai region but the syndicate has grown its influence even over Tokyo.
Being a major force in Japan, numerous Yakuza groups are affiliated to the Yamaguchi. Even as far as Nagasaki like the Suishin-Kai. At the same time an Anti Yamaguchi league was created to stop the Syndicate from growing its influence all the way to Kyushu. This league was headed in special by the Kudo-kai in Kitakyushu. The bloodiest Yakuza according to the Japanese Police.
It is part of the Kobe lifestyle. Almost like some local institution. The syndicate even helped with food and supplies to relief the victims of the Kobe Earthquake of 1995. Even faster than the government in assisting the victims. A fact that was used as criticism in the local media against the official support. Once again after the Tohoku tsunami of 2011 they sent trucks full of supplies into the affected areas.
Taoka Kazuo: The Japanese Godfather (1913 – 1981)
Taoka Kazuo is a legend in the Yakuza world. Sometimes called the Godfather of Godfathers. He was the third Kumicho of the Syndicate. After Yamaguchi Harukichi founded the Syndicate in Kobe, 1915 his son assumed control in 1925. Yamaguchi Noboru became the second Kumicho until 1942 (seeing in the featured image for this post). Taoka Kazuo was an orphan who grew up in the streets of Kobe getting into fights and finding the guidance of Noboru who took him under his wing. He even had a signature attack clawing his enemy’s eyes, like a bear. This is the origin of his nickname Kuma, or bear. He took the lead of the Syndicate in 1946 after being imprisoned for murder. And made the Yamaguchi-gumi the largest crime organization in Japan.
After surviving an assassination attempt in 1978 that put a bullet in the back of his neck, he died from a heart attack in 1981. After his death the heir to the Yamaguchi-gumi was Yamamoto Ken-ichi, imprisoned at the time. He was the founder and Kumicho of the Yamaken-gumi, an affiliate to Yamaguchi-gumi. He died later in 1982 of liver failure. Taoka Kazuo’s wife Fumiko filled the role of Kumicho waiting for a candidate to be elected by a council of Bosses. Takenaka Masahisa became the fourth Kumicho over Yamamoto Hiroshi in 1984.
The Yama-Ichi Yakuza War 1985 – 1989
Yamamoto Hiroshi broke from the Yamaguchi-gumi and founded the Ichiwa-kai. In January 1985 Takenaka Masahisa together with Wakagashira (under Boss) Nakayama Katsumasa were shot to death by the Ichiwa-kai. But the assassination was the spark to ignite the Yama-Ichi Yakuza war. During almost four years the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Ichiwa-kai fought in almost 220 gun battles. At least 36 members were killed with the media carrying daily scores of the fallen on both sides. And many others were captured by the police carrying guns and knives in broad daylight. The Yamaguchi finally outnumbered the Ichiwa-kai who accepted a peace accord and rejoined the Yamaguchi Syndicate.
When the war ended Yamamoto Hiroshi retired and the Yamaguchi-gumi elected his fifth Kumicho, Watanabe Yoshinori. His Wakagashira, Takumi Masaru was a powerful man inside the Syndicate leading at the same time the affiliated Takumi-gumi. Also known as The Man Who Never Sleeps his influence sometimes overshadowed the Kumicho. A likely successor to Watanabe, he was shot dead in a Coffee shop in Osaka by the Nakano-kai. Their Kumicho, Nakano Taro was angry with Takumi Masaru for ordering them to cease hostilities in an Osaka yakuza dispute.
The successor to Takumi Masaru as Wakagashira, Tuskasa Shinobu became the sixth Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi after Watanabe Hiroshi retired from crime life. He was something like a hero in the Yama-Ichi War. He is the current Kumicho.
The Yamaguchi-gumi in 21th century Japan
Not only Yamaguchi members but the Yakuza in general have declined since 1990. In part thanks to new policies and ordinance, by 2023 the active members of the Kobe Big Family are considered to be around 3.500. The Yamaguchi-gumi had over ten thousand members at its peak with Taoka Kazuo as Kumicho. In 2015 the Yamaken-gumi, an affiliate of Yamaguchi, broke away together with other minor groups and founded the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi. They took away almost half the members out of six thousands. Still his current Kumicho, Tsukasa Shinobu has resumed expansion. Trying to boost members morale they launched a newsletter in 2013. Only available to members includes articles on the Yakuza traditions and even an editorial by Tsukasa Shinobu.