TOKYO (TR) – Broad daylight in the bustling entertainment district of Roppongi turned into a scene of underworld tension on March 19, as a top executive from Japan’s largest crime syndicate descended upon the headquarters of the rival Inagawa-kai, reports the site for weekly tabloid Friday.
Investigators from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and the local Azabu Police Station were on high alert, while media photographers waited.
Masahiro Nouchi, a senior executive of the Yamaguchi-gumi, visited the gang’s Tokyo base accompanied by Tatsuo Ozawa, the newly anointed chairman of the Tosei-kai.
After getting out of the car, Nouchi bowed deeply to the Inagawa-kai headquarters. Before entering the office, he readjusted the buttons on his suit with both hands and walked forward with a tense expression.
Succession
The high-profile gathering was part of a formal underworld “greeting tour” to announce Ozawa’s succession.
Ozawa is a former high-ranking boss within the Yamaguchi-gumi‘s powerful Kodo-kai faction. He officially transferred to the Tosei-kai in October last year after exchanging “brotherhood cups” with then-chairman Yasushi Hayano.
He has now officially taken the helm of the historic Tokyo-based syndicate.
“It is extremely unusual for someone to assume the leadership position of another organization, and police authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation,” an organized crime journalist says. “Ozawa has been making courtesy calls to other organizations, and the first one he visited that day was the Inagawa-kai.”
After this, they reportedly made courtesy visits to offices of the Sumiyoshi-kai, Kyokuto-kai, Soai-kai and Matsuba-kai to announce the succession.
Following the tense Roppongi visit, the new Tosei-kai leader and his entourage embarked on a multi-day tour, traveling as far as the Chugoku and Shikoku regions to pay their respects and announce the succession to other syndicate leaders.
However, behind the traditional formalities, police and underworld observers remain on high alert, assures Friday. The installation of a former Yamaguchi-gumi heavyweight at the top of the Tosei-kai is viewed by many as a strategic power play that could ignite a “new spark” for gang conflict.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the motives of various underworld factions continue to intersect behind the scenes of the historic succession.
