Yamaken-gumi

The Fourth Yamaken-gumi (四代目山健組 Yondaime Yamaken-gumi) is a yakuza gang based in Kobe, Japan. It is the largest affiliate of the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan, the Yamaguchi-gumi, followed by the Nagoya-based Kodo-kai.[1] It takes its name from its founder, Kenichi Yamamoto.

The Yamaken-gumi is estimated to have between 3,000 and 7,000 members.

Yoshinori Watanabe was kumicho (Godfather) of the Yamaken-gumi from 1982 to 1989 before becoming kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi.[2] Watanabe retired from that post in July 2005, but the Yamaken-gumi remains largely loyal to him. Many of its members were upset that the sixth Yamaguchi don was not chosen from their ranks, instead, the Nagoya-based Kenichi Shinoda was chosen.

The Yamaken-gumi's current president (kumicho) is Kunio Inoue (born 1948 in Oita, Kyushu). The number-two (wakagashira) is Kuniharu Yamamoto (born 1949 in Oita, Kyushu).

Leadership

Current Top Leaders

References