Kazuo Taoka

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Kazuo Taoka (田岡 一雄 Taoka Kazuo; March 28, 1913 - July 23, 1981) was the most prominent yakuza Godfather of the 20th Century.

Known as the "Godfather of Godfathers", Taoka was third kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza organization, from 1946 to 1981.

Taoka, an orphan, grew up as a young street fighter in Kobe under the guidance of Noboru Yamaguchi, the Yamaguchi-gumi's boss. He earned his lifelong nickname "Kuma" ("the Bear") due to his signature attack of clawing at an opponent's eyes. He was imprisoned for murder from 1937 to 1943, and assumed the role of kumicho three years later at the age of 33.

He led the Yamaguchi-gumi until his death from a heart attack in 1981. (He had survived a 1978 assassination attempt in a Kyoto nightclub). His wife, Kumiko, briefly filled the gang's leadership role until a new kumicho, Masahisa Takenaka, was chosen in 1984.

From 1983 until 1990 his daughter, Yuki, was married to Kitaro, a noted Japanese musician.

Preceded by: Noboru Yamaguchi

Kumicho of Yamaguchi-gumi 1946-1981

Succeeded by: Masahisa Takenaka