Yakuza boss arrested for receiving illegal funds

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on the top boss of an organization affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai organized crime group for the reception of criminal proceeds, reports TBS News (Oct. 1).

In December of last year, Haruo Numazawa, the 85-year-old head of the Numazawa-kai, is alleged to have accepted 300,000 yen from a gang member of an affiliate gang who had obtained the funds through illegal black-market lending.

Numazawa denies the charges, telling police that he did not receive a payment. Mitsuyoshi Araki, a 45-year-old upper-level member of the same gang, was also arrested.

The money was delivered to Numazawa at the Numazawa-kai headquarters in Sumida Ward as a part of a process known as jonokin, which involves funneling money collected through the operations of lower members upward within the gang.

  Haruo Numazawa, Japan, Sumiyoshi-kai, Tokyo, yakuza, 住吉会, 暴力団, 沼沢会