MIE (TR) – Mie Prefectural Police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of the body of an upper member of the recently troubled Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group in Yokkaichi City, reports NHK (Nov. 16).
At approximately 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, the wife of Tatsuyuki Hishida, the 59-year-old boss of the Aio-kai, and a fellow gang member found him collapsed and bleeding from his head in the entrance of a residence located in the Hamadacho area.
According to police, Hishida’s hands and feet had been tied. His head showed marks of being hit with a blunt object several times.
Hishida was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.
The Yamaguchi-gumi, which is Japan’s largest organized crime group, broke up in September. Law enforcement has since raided the headquarters of a number of its affiliate gangs and those of its newly formed rival gang, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.
Police suspect that the murder of Hishida was the result of the gang’s split.
The Aio-kai is a second-tier organization of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Its base of operations is Yokkaichi.
Earlier in the day, the fellow gang member was unable to contact Hishida after arriving by car outside the residence, which is a secondary accommodation of the boss. Both he and Hisida’s wife then entered the premises together and made the grisly discovery.
