Brink of Yakuza War

The largest gangster organization in Japan, Yamaguchi-gumi, is close to be divided in two with internal opposition over management of the group. Although weakness of criminal organization must be fine for civil society, ordinary people are afraid of it, because collision between Japanese mafia groups had always caused collateral damage on innocent people. While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is stressing his responsibility to protect life and property of Japanese people with new security legislation, the government of Japan is tested whether it can protect them from yakuza war.

Japanese police reconfirmed that the headquarters of Yamaguchi-gumi ousted ten or more bosses under its leadership. The penalty was the most severe one, which does not allow those bosses to be returned to the organization forever. Its significance was represented by the fact that the ousted bosses included one of the biggest fractions under the organization, Yamaken-gumi.

Yamaken-gumi, stationed in Kobe City, has been recognized as the central group under the top leadership for decades. But, after current leader, Shinobu Tsukasa, took seat in 2005, gang group in Nagoya City broaden its power inside the organization, and Kobe groups became weaker in influential power. Since Yamaguchi-gumi was established in Kobe a hundred years ago, bosses in Kobe have been regarding themselves as mainstream of the gang organization.

It will be inevitable for both sides to struggle over interests they possess. One trivial quibble between young gangs in a bar or street can escalate all-out war. Since Yamaguchi-gumi is a broad organization all over Japan, the war can occur everywhere in the country, including innocent citizens. Although Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, announced his determination to deter collateral damages, yakuza organization has already been prevalent in every aspect of civil life.

Even how politics works hard for preventing public violence, criminal organizations do not stop opposing each other, when it turns to be something related to dignity or existence. It is necessary for political leaders to take fundamental measures to uproot evils. This war over criminal organization may remind political leaders of their responsibility for keeping peace for their people.