Yamaguchi-gumi
Japanese organized crime (yakuza) group / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi (六代目山口組, Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, Japanese: [ɾokɯdaime jamaɡɯt͡ɕi ɡɯmi]) is Japan's largest yakuza organization. It is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi. Its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe before World War II.[4]
Founded | 1915; 109 years ago (1915) |
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Founder | Harukichi Yamaguchi |
Founding location | Kobe, Japan |
Years active | 1915–present |
Territory | Primarily based in Kobe but has territory all over Japan, including in Nagoya, Tokyo and Hawaii, United States |
Membership (est.) | 3,500 members[1] 3,800 quasi-members[1] |
Leader(s) | Kenichi Shinoda |
Activities | Arms trafficking, assassinations, bid rigging, blackmail, bookmaking, contract killing, drug trafficking, extortion, fraud, human trafficking, illegal gambling, Internet pornography, loansharking, match fixing, money laundering, murder, prostitution, racketeering, securities fraud, sōkaiya, and infiltration of legitimate businesses[2][3] |
Allies | Inagawa-kai |
Rivals | Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi |
It is one of the largest criminal organizations in the world. According to the National Police Agency, it had 3,500 active members at the end of 2023.[1]
The Yamaguchi-gumi are among the world's wealthiest gangsters, bringing in billions of dollars a year from extortion, gambling, the sex industry, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, real estate and construction kickback schemes. They are also involved in stock market manipulation and Internet pornography.[2][3]
The Yamaguchi-gumi has its headquarters in Kobe, but it operates all across Japan and has overseas operations. Its current kumichō (Boss), Shinobu Tsukasa, has declared an expansionist policy—even making inroads into Tokyo, traditionally not Yamaguchi turf.[5] They also have multiple groups working overseas.[6][7]