, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan.
Syndicates Four largest syndicates Although yakuza membership has declined following an anti-gang law aimed specifically at yakuza and passed by the Japanese government in 1992, there are thought to be about 17,600 active yakuza members in Japan today.
Principal families Description Mon (crest) The Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest yakuza family, with about 3,100 members.
"Yamabishi" (山菱) The Sumiyoshi-kai is the second-largest yakuza family, with 2,100 members. Sumiyoshi-kai is a confederation of smaller yakuza groups. Its current head (会長 oyabun) is Isao Seki. The Inagawa-kai is the third-largest yakuza family in Japan, with roughly 1,600 members. It is based in the Tokyo–Yokohama area and was one of the first yakuza families to expand its operations outside of Japan. The Dojin-kai is the fourth-largest yakuza family, with 310 members. It is based in Fukuoka and is considered to be the leading methamphetamine trafficker in Japan.
Designated bōryokudan
A "Police of Japan 2011, Criminal Investigation : 2. Fight Against Organized Crime", December 2009, National Police Agency is a "particularly harmful" yakuza group"The Organized Crime Countermeasures Law" , The Fukuoka Prefectural Center for the Elimination of Boryokudan registered by the Prefectural Public Safety Commissions under the enacted in 1991."Boryokudan Comprehensive Measures — The Condition of the Boryokudan", December 2010, Hokkaido Prefectural Police
The numbers that follow the names of bōryokudan groups refer to the group's leadership. For example, Yoshinori Watanabe headed the Yamaguchi-gumi fifth; on his retirement, Shinobu Tsukasa became head of the Yamaguchi-gumi sixth, and "Yamaguchi-gumi VI" is the group's formal name.
Name Japanese name Headquarters Reg. in Notes Yamaguchi-gumi VI 六代目山口組Kobe, Hyōgo 1992It was founded in 1915 and split from the Oshima-gumi in 1932. Yamaguchi is the surname of the founder and first boss and kumi or gumi means group. Inagawa-kai 稲川会 Minato, Tokyo 1992Inagawa is the surname of the founder and first boss and kai means organization or society. It is a member of the Kantō-Shinboku-kai (Kanto social gathering). Sumiyoshi-kai 住吉会 Minato, Tokyo 1992Sumiyoshi means the name of place. It is a member of the Kantō-Shinboku-kai. Kudō-kai V 五代目工藤會 Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 1992 It was renamed from Kudō-rengō-Kusano-ikka in 1999. Kudō is the surname of the founder and first boss. It is a member of the Yonsha-kai (Four social gathering). Kyokuryū-kai 旭琉會 Okinawa, Okinawa 1992 It was renamed from Okinawa-Kyokuryū-kai in 2011. Aizu-Kotetsu-kai VII 七代目会津小鉄会 Kyoto, Kyoto 1992This was established in the Edo period. It was renamed from Aizu-Kotetsu in 1998. Aizu Kotetsu means the nickname of the first boss Senkichi Kosaka and Aizu means the name of place. Kyōsei-kai VI 六代目共政会 Hiroshima, Hiroshima 1992It is a member of the Gosha-kai (Five social gathering). Gōda-ikka VII 七代目合田一家 Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 1992Gōda is the surname of the founder and first boss and ikka means family. It is a member of the Gosha-kai. Kozakura-ikka IV 四代目小桜一家 Kagoshima, Kagoshima 1992 Asano-gumi V 五代目浅野組 Kasaoka, Okayama 1992Asano is the surname of the boss. It is a member of the Gosha-kai. Dōjin-kai 道仁会 Kurume, Fukuoka 1992It is a member of the Yonsha-kai. Shinwa-kai II 二代目親和会 Takamatsu, Kagawa 1992It is a member of the Gosha-kai. Sōai-kai 双愛会 Ichihara, Chiba 1992It is a member of the Kantō-Shinboku-kai. Kyōdō-kai III 三代目俠道会 Onomichi, Hiroshima 1993It is a member of the Gosha-kai. Taishū-kai 太州会 Tagawa, Fukuoka 1993 Taishū means the nickname of the first boss. It is a member of the Yonsha-kai. Sakaume-gumi X 十代目酒梅組 Osaka, Osaka 1993 Kyokutō-kai 極東会 Toshima, Tokyo 1993Kyokutō means Far East. It is a member of the Kantō-Shinnō-Doushi-kai (Kanto Shennong Association). It is a tekiya group. Azuma-gumi II 二代目東組 Osaka, Osaka 1993Azuma is the surname of the boss. Matsuba-kai 松葉会 Taito, Tokyo 1994Matsuba means pine needle, is kamon of the boss of predecessor syndicate Sekine-gumi. It is a member of the Kantō-Shinboku-kai. Fukuhaku-kai IV 四代目福博会 Fukuoka, Fukuoka 2000Fukuhaku means the name of place, Hakata Fukuoka.Namikawa-kai 浪川会 Omuta, Fukuoka 2008It was formed from split from Dojin-kai in 2006 and remained active until on June 11, 2013, when the senior members of the Kyushu Seido-kai said that the gang was disbanding to rejoin the Dojin-kai after resolving the problems the dispute had caused. On October 7, 2013 was formed the Namikawa-mutsumi-kai by upper members of the former Kyushu-Seido-kai when they visited a shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture when one member read aloud an oath announcing the formation of the new yakuza group, based in Omuta City, Fukuoka. Namikawa is the surname of the boss. It was renamed to Namikawa-kai in 2015. Kōbe-Yamaguchi-gumi神戸山口組Kobe, Hyōgo2016It was split of Yamaguchi-gumi VI in 2015. Kizuna-kai絆會Amagasaki, Hyōgo2018It was split of Kōbe-Yamaguchi-gumi as Ninkyo-dantai-Yamaguchi-gumi in 2017. It was renamed to Ninkyo-Yamaguchi-gumi in 2017. It was renamed to Kizuna-kai in 2020. Kantō-Sekine-gumi関東関根組Tsuchiura, Ibaraki2018It was split of Matsuba-kai as Matsubakai-Sekine-gumi in 2014. It renamed to Kanto-Sekine-gumi in 2017.
Designated bōryokudan in the past Name Japanese name Headquarters Designated in Notes Ishikawa-ikka 石川一家 Saga1993–1995 Ishikawa is the surname of the boss. It was joined to the Yamaguchi-gumi V in 1995. Dainippon-Heiwa-kai II 二代目大日本平和会 Hyōgo 1994–1997It was successor of Honda-kai. Dainippon means Great Japan and heiwa means peace. It was not designated update. Kumamoto-rengō Yamano-kai III 熊本連合 三代目山野会 Kumamoto 1998–2001 Kumamoto means the name of place and rengo means coalition. Yamano is the surname of the boss. It was destroyed. Kyokutō-Sakurai-sōke-rengō-kai 極東桜井總家連合会 Shizuoka 1993–2005 Sakurai is the surname of the boss, sōke means all family or head family and rengō-kai means federation. It disappeared. Kokusui-kai 國粹会 Tokyo 1994–2005 Kokusui means Japanese nationalism. It was joined to the Yamaguchi-gumi VI. Nakano-kai 中野会 Osaka 1999–2005 It was split from Yamaguchi-gumi in 1997. Nakano is the surname of the boss. It was disbanded in 2005. Kyokuryū-kai IV 四代目旭琉会 Okinawa 1992–2012 It has been merged into Okinawa-Kyokuryū-kai in 2011.
Other notable bōryokudan Name Japanese name Headquarters Boss NotesGenseida-Kōyū-kai源清田交友会IbarakiShiroo Tanabe (田名辺 城男)Its core is the Genseida-Fukuyama-kai VI (源清田福山会六代目) and Genseida-Tanabe III (源清田田名辺三代目). It had once belonged to the Zen-Nihon-Genseida-rengo-kai (全日本源清田連合会). It is friendly with the Matsuba-kai.Yorii-sōke VIII八代目寄居宗家GunmaMitsuo Kawada? (川田 光雄)It withdrew from Kōdō-kai. Yorii is a place name and soke means head family.Yorii-bunke VI寄居分家六代目GunmaTakashi Iwano? (岩野 賞)Bunke means branch family. Member of the Kantō-Shinnō-Doushi-kai.Kameya-ikka VI六代目亀屋一家SaitamaMakoto Yamazaki? (山崎 誠)It was split from Takezawa-kai. It is friendly with the Sumiyoshi-kai.Yoshiha-kai VIII八代目吉羽会SaitamaToshihito Takanomori? (高野守 利人)It was split from Takezawa-kai. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Takezawa-kai竹澤会ChibaHaruo Ōtawa (太田和 春雄)Formerly known as Zen-Takezawa-rengō-kai. Takezawa is the surname of the boss. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai. It is friendly with the Sumiyoshi-kai.Anegasaki-kai姉ヶ崎会TokyoShigetami Nakanome (中野目 重民)Formerly known as Anegasaki-rengō-kai in 2006. Anegasaki is a place name. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Iijima-kai VIII九代目飯島会TokyoMinoru Matsuhashi (松橋 稔)Formerly known as Zen-Nihon-Iijima-rengō-kai. Iijima is the surname of the boss. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Okaniwa-kai岡庭会TokyoSeiichirō Okaniwa (岡庭 清一郎)Okaniwa is the surname of the boss. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Kawaguchiya-kai川口家会TokyoKiyoshi Osaka (大坂 清)Kanda-Takagi VII神田高木七代目TokyoAkira Nagamura (長村 昭)Kanda is a place name and Takagi is the surname of the boss.Shitaya-Hanajima-kai?下谷花島会TokyoŌsaka Isamu? (大坂 勇)Shitaya is a place name. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Jōshūya-kai上州家会TokyoKatsuhiko Itō (伊藤 勝彦)Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai. It is friendly with the Sumiyoshi-kai.Shinmon-rengō-kai新門連合会TokyoNaoaki Kasama (笠間 直明)It has inherited the genealogy of Shinmon Tatsugoro.Sugitō-kai杉東会TokyoTomoaki Nohara (野原 朝明)Sugitō means east of Suginami. Formerly known as Sugitō-rengō-kai. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Daigo-kai醍醐会TokyoHideo Aoyama (青山 秀夫)Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Chōjiya-kai丁字家会TokyoTakuya Nakasugi (中杉 拓哉)Formerly known as Zen-Chōjiya-rengō-kai. Chōjiya means clove merchants. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Tōsei-kai東声会TokyoYasushi Hayano (早野 泰)Successor to Tōsei-kai. Tōa means East Asia. Member of the Kanto-Shinboku-kai. It was renamed to Tosei-kai.Hashiya-kai箸家会TokyoKōtarō Satō (佐藤 幸太郎)Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Hanamata-kai花又会TokyoAkira Kiyono (清野 昭)Formerly known as Hanamata-rengō-kai. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Masuya-kai桝屋会TokyoSotojirō Higashiura (東浦 外次郎)Formerly known as Zen-Masuya-rengō-kai. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Matsuzakaya-ikka V五代目松坂屋一家TokyoTakichi Nishimura (西村 太吉)Ametoku-rengō-kai飴德連合会KanagawaHideya Nagamochi? (永持 英哉)Ametoku is the nickname of the first boss. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Tokuriki-ikka V五代目徳力一家KanagawaunknownMember of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Yokohama-Kaneko-kai横浜金子会KanagawaTakashi Terada (寺田 隆)Yokohama is a place name and Kaneko is the surname of the boss. Member of the Kanto-Shinno-Doushi-kai.Sakurai-sōke IX九代目櫻井總家ShizuokaHiroyoshi Sano (佐野 宏好)Successor to Kyutō-Sakurai-sōke-rengō-kai.Chūkyō-Shinnō-kai中京神農会AichiEizō Yamagashira? (山頭 栄三)It was split from Dōyū-kai. Chūkyō is a place name and Shinno is Shennong, a mythical sage ruler of prehistoric China.Marutomi-rengō-kai丸富連合会KyotoSatoshi Kitahashi? (北橋 斉)Sanshaku-gumi-honke IV大阪四代目三尺組本家OsakaAizō Tanaka (田中 愛造)Naoshima-Giyū-kai直嶋義友会OsakaTadashi Noda (野田 忠志)Naoshima is the surname of the boss.Kōbe-Hakurō-kai-sōhonbu V五代目神戸博労会総本部HyōgoShikano Noboru? (鹿野 昇)Kōbe and Hakurō is a place name.Chūsei-kai忠成会HyōgoTadaaki Ōmori (大森 匡晃)Matsuura-gumi III三代目松浦組HyōgoSadaji Matsuda? (松田 貞次) Matsuura is the surname of the boss.Konjin-Tsumura-sōhonke II二代目金神津村總本家HiroshimaYoshisuke Tsumura? (津村 義輔)Sōhonke means all family or head family.Chūgoku-Takagi-kai III三代目中国高木会HiroshimaHideyoshi Daigen? (大源 秀吉)Successor to Kyōsei-kai Murakami-gumi. Chūgoku is a place name and Takagi is the surname of the boss.Kyūshū-Kashida-kai III三代目九州樫田会FukuokaTakashi Koga? (古賀 孝司)Kyūshū is a place name and Kashida is the surname of the boss.Tatekawa-kai? III九州三代目立川会FukuokaToshihiko Ikeura (池浦 敏彦)Nakanishi-kai中西会FukuokaunknownFujiie-kai?藤家会FukuokaMitsuo Nakao (中尾 光男)Fujiie is the surname of the boss.Kyūshū-Kumashiro-rengō ?九州神代連合SagaKatsuji Noguchi (野口 勝次)Kyūshū-Ozaki-kai II二代目九州尾崎会NagasakiKuniyuki Koga (古賀 國行)Ozaki is the surname of the boss.Kumamoto-kai III三代目熊本會KumamotoHidenori Morihara (森原 秀徳)Successor to Kumamoto-rengō. Member of the Yonsha-kai.Sanshin-kai山心会KumamotoAtsushi Inoue (井上 厚)Successor to Kumamoto-rengō Yamano-kai. Formerly known as Sanshin-kai (山心会).Murakami-gumi III九州三代目村上組OitaYoshishige Matsuoka (松岡 良茂)Murakami is the surname of the boss.Nishida-kai V五代目西田会MiyazakiKazuo Tanaka (田中 一夫)
Other prominent bōryokudan