Investigators from the anti-organized crime division took Gaku Yojima, the 41-year-old the head of the Kodo-kai, a gang associated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, and Kim Myong, 59, into custody for attempted extortion of 100 million yen from a 48-year-old businessman in Tokyo.
Both suspects claim to have no knowledge of the allegations.
The alleged extortion victim works in the import business. According to police, the suspects used gambling debts that date back to May as a pretext for demanding money from the victim after announcing their gang affiliation.