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Ex-Kanto Rengo bosozoku leader arrested for assault in Tokyo

Roppongi Crossing
Roppongi Crossing

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested Tsuyoshi Kawana, an ex-leader of a bosozoku biker gang, on Monday in Minato Ward for an assault that took place four months ago, reports Sports Hochi (Sept. 13).

Officers from the Azabu Police Station took Kawana into custody for inflicting injuries to the head of an acquaintance inside a nightclub in the Roppongi entertainment district at around 3 a.m. on May 8.

The injuries required two to three weeks to heal.

The 40-year-old Kawana was previously involved in the drunken rampage of Mongolian-born former sumo yokozuna Asashoryu that occurred in January of last year, just before the grand champion’s retirement from the sport.

Immediately prior to last year’s incident, Asashoryu and Kawana had reportedly been drinking at the same club where the May assault took place, which is shown to be club Feria in a photo accompanying the article.

Soon after the assault, Kawana’s whereabouts remained unknown, but he was apprehended yesterday by police in an Azabu Juban residence. “Punching him was not a mistake,” he is quoted as telling officers.

According to people involved in the investigation, Kawana had a stake in the ownership of Feria three years ago. Since then, ownership has been changing hands frequently.

Nikkan Sports (Sept. 13) indicates that Kawana is known as the “Emperor of Roppongi” on various Internet sites, given that he is proficient in some foreign languages — a skill that is useful given the diverse clientele that the area tends to attract.

Ten years ago, Kawana was the leader of the 3,000-member Kanto Rengo biker gang. It was a former member of that same group that famously assaulted kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa at a Nishi Azabu bar last November. At the time of that incident, police have said that other former leaders of the Kanto Rengo group were in attendance.