Yamaken-gumi

The Fourth Yamaken-gumi (四代目山健組, Yondaime Yamaken-gumi) is a yakuza gang based in Kobe, Japan. It is the largest affiliate of the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan, the Yamaguchi-gumi, followed by the Nagoya-based Kodo-kai.[1] It takes its name from its founder, Kenichi Yamamoto.

The Yamaken-gumi is estimated to have between 3,000 and 7,000 members.

Yoshinori Watanabe was kumicho (Godfather) of the Yamaken-gumi from 1982 to 1989 before becoming kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi.[2] 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 Kunio Inoue (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 Yasuhara-kai (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 Kenryu-kai (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 Kenryu-kai.
  • 4th kumicho (2005-): Kunio Inoue (井上 邦雄) who is a kambu (幹部) of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi. He was kaicho of the Fourth Kenryu-kai. He is an adopted son of Kuwata.

Current Top Leaders

  • kumicho - Kunio Inoue
  • wakagashira - Hideyuki Senoo (kumicho of the Senoo-gumi)

References

  1. ↑ "Police wary as Yamaguchi-gumi prepares to fete sixth don", August 19, 2005, The Japan Times
  2. ↑ "Yamaguchi-gumi don celebrates a decade at the top", July 19, 1999, The Japan Times
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