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Kyoto police: Yakuza concealed affiliation to run festival stalls

The emblem of the Yamaguchi-gumi
The emblem of the Yamaguchi-gumi

KYOTO (TR) – Kyoto Prefectural Police on Friday announced the arrest of former and current organized crime members for concealing their identities to operate stalls at festivals last year, reports the Asahi Shimbun (May 29).

On August 14, Hisao Takahashi, the 54-year-old boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi’s affiliate group Yusei-kai, and four other affiliates of the gang are alleged to have set up food stalls at a fireworks festival in Nantan City while not indicating their gang affiliation on the application.

Police arrested two more stall holders connected to the Yusei-kai on the same charges for a festival that took place 11 days later in Nagaokakyo City.

Of the eight suspects, five have admitted to the crime while two others have denied the charges. Takahashi has withheld comment.

According to the Sankei Shimbun (May 29), the case represents a nationwide first.

In 2011, five of the suspects resigned from the Yusei-kai in a move the police view as a fabrication since Takahashi still regarded them as members.

According to the police, the operation funneled approximately one million yen to the Yusei-kai each month.