Masahiro Ojima, 19/06/22
The Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest yakuza group in Japan. Seki Ikio, head of the Sumiyoshi-kai, the second most powerful group in Japan, passed away on 31 May, aged 76.
In the yakuza community, funerals and the presentation of the new name when a new boss takes over, are called 'girigoto' and are considered to be the most important ceremonies. Seki's funeral took place in early June at a facility in Chiba Prefecture belonging to his group of origin (Kyowa Ikka) and was attended by many yakuza leaders from across the country, including the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi's leader, Tsukasa Shinobu.
The nameplate of the Yamaguchi-gumi leader placed in the highest position
According to the National Police Agency, the Sumiyoshi-kai has affiliated groups in 18 prefectures, with approximately 2,500 members confirmed as of the end of 2021, the latest data available. In terms of members, it is the second-largest organisation in Japan after the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, which counts approximately 4,000 members. Along with the floral offerings, the altar was decorated with nameplates with the names of leaders of the major groups, who can be said the 'all-stars' in the yakuza world.
On either side of Seki's portrait, the nameplate of Shuji Ogawa, the current leader of the Sumiyoshikai, was displayed as the host, with the nameplate of Tsukasa, the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi boss, placed at the highest position right next to it, and on the opposite side the nameplate of Jiro Kiyota, the president of the Inagawa-kai, the third-largest group in Japan after the Sumiyoshikai.
In addition to the nameplates of Takayama Seiji, the wakagashira (second in command) of the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, and of Uchibori Kazuya, the chairman of the Inagawa-kai, the nameplate of Satoru Nomura, the leader of the Kudo-kai who became the first yakuza boss to be sentenced to death in August 2021, was also displayed.
A senior member of a yakuza group based in the Tokyo metropolitan area states that 'the placement of offerings of flowers and nameplates is important'.
"They are placed from the top according to the kanme (career) of the bosses. If you look at the photo of the altar, you will see 'Tsukasa' right next to the deceased. This is because he is the boss of the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest organisation in Japan. In the yakuza world, which is very much concerned about men's honour, the order in which the bosses' names are placed is very important."
Important to ensure that "nameplates and floral offerings are not slanted."
Another boss revealed that "we even have to think about whether the nameplates and offerings of flowers are not askew".
Representatives of the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, Inagawa-kai and other groups visited the funeral house, even though in the past there had been fears of a conflict between the Sumiyoshi-kai and the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi.
In February 2007, an executive member affiliated to the Sumiyoshi-kai was shot dead by members of the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo. Eventually, talks were held between the two sides and a settlement was reached, but for a few years there was virtually no interaction.
However, when Seki became leader of the Sumiyoshikai in April 2014, he sought a deeper relationship with the Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, and in September 2016, a meeting between Seki, Tsukasa and Kiyota (who was then chairman of the Inagawa-kai) was organised. After that, the relationship became friendly again.
The funeral of the head of the Sumiyoshi-kai was attended by executives from all over the country, and they contributed with huge sums of money.
The senior member of a group based in the Tokyo metropolitan area mentioned above, reported:
"The amount [of the donated money] will be in the tens of millions of yen (¥10,000,000 = £60,000). There may have been some organisations that wrapped tens of millions of yen. However, the amount of money is in line with other funerals, and this offer is not made only to special people.
After deducting funeral expenses, a portion of the donations will be paid to the organisation and the remaining 70% or so would be given to the bereaved family. This has been the way it has been done in funerals at organisations I have been associated with. I suspect it will be the same at this funeral for the Sumiyoshikai."
On the other hand, the public's attitude towards groups has become more severe in recent years. Temples and funeral homes cannot be used because society as a whole is becoming more and more aware of the need to eliminate the yakuza.
The aforementioned executive further reports that "the placement of floral offerings is important."
'We are not allowed to use funeral homes because we are yakuza. When a senior member dies, the police contact in advance temples and funeral homes where funerals are likely to be held, and tell them not to accept the request. There are no temples these days that would reject the police's request. That's probably why Seki's funeral was held at the office of the of Kyowa Ikka."
For the police, 'girigoto are a great chance to arrest yakuza members'
A senior police investigator who has been working on gang crimes in the field for many years reveals his perspective: 'Girigoto (ceremonies) are a great chance to arrest yakuza members'.
For the yakuza, girigoto are the most important ceremonies, and absence is unforgivable as it shows a lack of giri (duty). Yakuza are always present at major events. Therefore, if a person is a suspect in a case, we wait for him with an arrest warrant on the day of the ceremony. We take them into custody there and arrest them. As it is very difficult to chase a fleeing yakuza, ceremonies are the easiest place to catch them. In fact, we have actually targeted and arrested people on the day of a girigoto.
Long ago, there seemed to be a tacit understanding between the police and the yakuza that they would not make arrests during a girigoto. For example, they would not carry out arrests during celebratory events such as funerals or succession ceremonies, even if an arrest warrant had been issued. Instead, the targeted yakuza member would tell the police, 'Come and see me the day after the event', and the police would do exactly as they were told."
However, the police investigator also argues that such stories of a bygone idyllic era are 'hardly possible today'.
'In recent years, yakuza run away at any cost. If they say 'Please wait until the ceremony is over...', they will surely run away. If you wait for them to finish their business, they will run away. And it's outrageous to say things like 'turn yourself in the next day'. That's why your best chance to make an arrest is during a ceremony."
The friendly talks between the police and the yakuza may be a thing of the past nowadays.
Source: https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/55230
