Ultimate underworld betrayal that led to the Yamaguchi-gumi split

In early 2015, Japan’s largest yakuza syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, threw a lavish 100th-anniversary bash

Tokyo Reporter2026-09-03 08:26查看原文 ↗

HYOGO (TR) – In early 2015, Japan’s largest yakuza syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi , threw a lavish 100th-anniversary bash. Because the syndicate’s exact founding date is unknown, the centennial celebration was held on January 25, the birthday of sixth-generation kingpin Kenichi Shinoda .

For the first time, the notoriously secretive group allowed tabloid reporters inside the headquarters’ walls, a rare “carrot and stick” media strategy that left the press elated.

Later that year, the gang would split in one of the greatest shakeups in the history of Japan’s criminal underworld. In looking back at the celebration, weekly tabloid Shukan Post (Sep. 11) says that beneath the smiles, karaoke and free-flowing booze the historic betrayal was already brewing.

The unprecedented event drew top bosses from 12 friendly syndicates across Japan, including the Inagawa-kai and Matsuba-kai .

However, police intelligence revealed the syndicate’s willingness to trample on underworld codes behind closed doors.

Authorities confirmed that members of the Namikawa-kai secretly visited the compound to meet with Shinoda and top executives. Because the Namikawa-kai consisted of excommunicated members of a Yamaguchi-gumi ally, the meeting was a blatant violation of yakuza treaties.

According to veteran underworld writer Tomohiko Suzuki, the secret meeting highlights a core truth about the yakuza: “lies are just another weapon,” and mainstream media has largely stopped taking direct leaks from gangs because the information is almost always manipulated spin.

But the most spectacular lie of all was being performed right in front of the cameras by the masterminds of the syndicate’s impending fracture.

Kenichi Shinoda of the Yamaguchi-gumi (X)

Putting on a masterful display of feigned loyalty, Yamaken-gumi boss Kunio Inoue — who would soon orchestrate the rebellion and become the head of the breakaway Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi — happily acted as the banquet’s master of ceremonies.

Later in the evening, the karaoke selections revealed a bizarre disconnect. While loyal executives belted out the traditional Yamaguchi-gumi theme song, demoted executive Tadashi Irie closed out the session with a wildly out-of-place choice: the upbeat pop track “Days of Love and Desire” by Southern All Stars.

Speaking to the press that day, Irie offered a cryptic, smiling joke: “Well, all there’s left to do now is die.”

The official slogan plastered across the venue for the 100th anniversary was “Leap through time.” Just seven months later, in August 2015, the syndicate abruptly and violently fractured as Inoue, Irie, and their followers leaped ship.

Until the very moment the Yamaguchi-gumi tore itself apart, the traitors’ flawless, smiling facade was never exposed.

Published in News , Tabloid and Yakuza

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兵库县（TR）——2015年初，日本最大的黑帮组织山口组举办了一场盛大的百年庆典。由于该组织的确切成立日期不详，百年庆典定于1月25日举行，这一天也是第六代老大筱田健一的生日。

一向行事隐秘的这个组织首次允许小报记者进入总部大楼，这种罕见的“胡萝卜加大棒”式媒体策略让媒体欣喜若狂。

同年晚些时候，该团伙分崩离析，引发了日本黑社会历史上最严重的重组之一。回顾当时的庆祝活动，周刊小报《周刊邮报》（9月11日）指出，在欢声笑语、卡拉OK和畅饮美酒的表象之下，一场历史性的背叛已然酝酿。

这次史无前例的活动吸引了来自日本各地 12 个友好组织的头目，其中包括稻川会和松叶会。

然而，警方情报显示，该犯罪集团私下里也愿意践踏黑道规则。

当局证实，浪川会成员秘密前往山口组屋与筱田及其高层会面。由于浪川会成员系山口组盟友的开除成员，此次会面公然违反了黑道条约。

据资深黑社会作家铃木智彦称，这次秘密会议凸显了黑帮的一个核心真相：“谎言只是另一种武器”，主流媒体基本上已经不再直接从黑帮获取消息，因为这些信息几乎总是经过操纵和歪曲的。

但最惊人的谎言，却是该犯罪集团即将分裂的幕后主使们在镜头前上演的。

山口组的筱田健一 (X)

山健组组长井上邦夫（他很快将策划叛乱，成为分裂出来的神户山口组的首领）出色地装出一副忠诚的样子，欣然担任宴会的司仪。

当晚晚些时候，卡拉OK环节的选曲揭示了一种令人匪夷所思的矛盾。忠诚的高管们高歌着传统的山口组队歌，而降职的高管入江正却以一首与整体风格格格不入的欢快流行歌曲——南方全明星乐队的《爱与欲望的日子》——结束了当晚的卡拉OK环节。

当天，伊里在接受媒体采访时，开了一个意味深长、面带微笑的玩笑：“好吧，现在剩下的事情就是死了。”