OSAKA (TR) -Following a recent uprising in Japan’s world of organized crime, Osaka Prefectural Police on Thursday raided the headquarters of an enterprise affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi in the assault of a dealer of illegal pornographic DVDs, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Sep. 18).
Investigators entered the offices of Kyokushin Rengo, located in the Chodo area of Higashiosaka, in search of evidence related to the alleged confinement and beating of the dealer, 43, inside a car parked in Naniwa Ward.
Police have arrested Yoji Nishimura, a 60-year-old member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, and six other suspects in the case.
In January and February, the suspects demanded three million yen from the victim, who only paid one third of that amount. The crime resulted during the collection of the remaining amount.
The search comes after recent turmoil involving the Kobe-based Yamaguchi-gumi, which is Japan’s largest organized crime group.
On September 1, the Yamaguchi-gumi chose to finalize the excommunication of 13 affiliate gangs, including the Yamaken-gumi and the Kyoyu-kai.
The rogue gangs are now forming the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi, a rival gang to the Yamaguchi-gumi that will be headed by Kunio Inoue, the 67-year-old boss of the Yamaken-gumi.
With the head of the Kyokushin Rengo being Kobun Kyo, a top boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi, the raid is another preparatory measure to reduce the possibility of a gang conflict.
Since the dissolution, this is the second raid of an organization that remained within the Yamaguchi-gumi. Police had previously searched the offices of the Kusaka Kogyo in Nagoya
Police have also raided the headquarters of Yamaken-gumi and Kyoyu-kai.
