Yamaken-gumi
| Founded | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Kenichi Yamamoto |
| Founding location | Kobe, Japan |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Territory | Kobe, Japan |
| Ethnicity | Japanese |
| Membership (est.) | ~800 |
The Fourth Yamaken-gumi (四代目山健組, Yondaime Yamaken-gumi) is a yakuza gang based in Kobe, Japan. It was the largest affiliate, followed by the Nagoya-based Kodo-kai, of the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan, the Yamaguchi-gumi until 2015.[1] From 2015 to 2020, it was under the umbrella of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.[2] In July 2021, the group split from the Yamaguchi-gumi, with a large number of their members opting to stay with the Yamaguchi-gumi.[3]
Before the split, the Yamaken-gumi was estimated to have between 3,000 and 7,000 members. Following the split the number dropped to around 800.[4]
Yoshinori Watanabe was kumicho (Godfather) of the Yamaken-gumi from 1982 to 1989 before becoming kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi.[5] Watanabe retired from that post in July 2005, but the Yamaken-gumi remains largely loyal to him. Many of its members were upset that the sixth Yamaguchi don was not chosen from their ranks, instead, the Nagoya-based Kenichi Shinoda was chosen.
The Yamaken-gumi's current president (kumicho) is (born 1948 in Oita, Kyushu). The number-two (wakagashira) is Kuniharu Yamamoto (born 1949 in Oita, Kyushu).
Leadership[]
- 1st kumicho (1961-1982): Kenichi Yamamoto (山本 健一) who was a eldest son (若頭, wakagashira) of the Third Yamaguchi-gumi. He was a former member of (安原会).
- 2nd kumicho (1982-1989): Yoshinori Watanabe (渡辺 芳則) who was wakagashira of the Fourth Yamaguchi-gumi. He was 1st kaicho (会長) of the (健竜会), and would later become kumicho of the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi.
- 3rd kumicho (1989-2005): Kaneyoshi Kuwata (桑田 兼吉) who is a eldest son's assistant (若頭補佐, wakagashira-hosa) of the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi. He was kaicho of the Second .
- 4th kumicho (2005-): (井上 邦雄) who is a kambu (幹部) of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi. He was kaicho of the Fourth . He is an adopted son of Kuwata.
Current Top Leaders[]
- kumicho - Kunio Inoue
- wakagashira - (kumicho of the )
References[]
- ^ "Police wary as Yamaguchi-gumi prepares to fete sixth don", August 19, 2005, The Japan Times
- ^ "新組織、文書で「神戸山口組」周知 「山菱」も使用 拠点は淡路市の侠友会本部か". sankei.com. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "神戸山口組に残留した山健組が新人事に着手…名門組織が分裂し、2つが並行する混沌状態に". biz-journal.jp. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Mizoguchi, Atsushi (2011). 暴力団 ("Boryokudan: Twenty-two Designated Boryokudan"). p. 19. ISBN 978-4-10-610434-3.
- ^ "Yamaguchi-gumi don celebrates a decade at the top", July 19, 1999, The Japan Times
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