Inagawa-kai
The Inagawa-kai (稲川会) is the third largest of Japan's yakuza groups, with approximately 5,000 members. It is based in the Kanto region, and was one of the first yakuza organizations to begin operating overseas.
The Inagawa-kai was founded in Yokohama in 1945 by Kakuji Inagawa Most of its members were drawn from the bakuto, traditional gamblers, and illegal gambling has long been the gang's main source of income. It has also expanded into such fields as drug dealing, blackmail, extortion, and prostitution.
After Kakuji Inagawa, the gang was led by Susumu Ishii, who led it to unprecedented financial prosperity during the 1980s Japanese bubble economy. At one point the gang's assets were estimated to be over $1.5 billion. After Ishii's death in 1990, Inagawa's son Toi Inagawa took over as kumicho and led the gang until his death in May 2005.
As of October 2005, no clear successor has emerged, but Kakuji Inagawa's grandson Hideki Inagawa is seen as the most likely candidate.
February 2009 sees the Inagawa-kai 'Honbu' (Head Office) relocating from the Kansai region of Japan to Tokyo's Akasaka. There is currently strong resistance from the local political groups and residents of Akasaka meaning that the location of the new Honbu may change yet again.
Leadership
- 1st kaicho: Seijo Inagawa (real name: Kakuji Inagawa)
- 2nd kaicho: Takamasa Ishii (real name: Susumu Ishii)
- 3rd kaicho: Yūkō Inagawa (real name: Toi Inagawa)
- 4th kaicho: Yoshio Tsunoda
References
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See also
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