Kodo-kai

{{Short description|Criminal organization based in Nagoya, Japan}} {{Infobox criminal organization | name = | image = Kodo-kai.png | image_size =  | caption = The daimon of the Kodo-kai | founded = 1984 | founder = Shinobu Tsukasa, 24 other members including Kiyoshi Takayama | named_after = | founding_location = | years_active = 1984-present | territory = Nagoya, Japan | ethnicity = Japanese | membership = 4000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/18/yakuza-kiyoshi-takayama-arrested-japan|title=Yakuza chief arrested in Japan|website=TheGuardian.com|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> | leaders = | activities = Banking, investment banking (for the criminal underworld) real estate, securities, show business | allies = Seibu Rengo, Komatsu-gumi, Koike-gumi, Fukushima Rengo, Jido-kai, Omi-ikka | rivals = | notable_members =

}}The '''Kodo-kai''' ({{nihongo2|弘道会}} ''Kōdō-kai'', ''Koh-doh-kai'') is a yakuza criminal organization based in Nagoya, Japan.<ref>[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T101118006346.htm "Nation's No. 2 gangster arrested"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014092211/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T101118006346.htm |date=2012-10-14 }}, November 19, 2010, ''Daily Yomiuri''</ref> It is a secondary organization of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan.<ref>[http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201012100378.html "Police anti-gang drive in trouble"], December 11, 2010, ''Asahi Shimbun''</ref> With an estimated membership of 4,000,<ref name="guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/18/yakuza-kiyoshi-takayama-arrested-japan "Yakuza chief arrested in Japan"], November 18, 2010, ''The Guardian''</ref> it is the second-largest Yamaguchi affiliate after the Yamaken-gumi, and operates in at least 18 prefectures.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20050819f3.html "Police wary as Yamaguchi-gumi prepares to fete sixth don"], August 19, 2005, ''The Japan Times''</ref>

The Kodo-kai is under close surveillance by the National Police Agency, as the NPA considers the organization to not be a traditional yakuza organization, but to be more like a mafia-type organization or terrorist organization.<ref name="WF">[http://www.kinyobi.co.jp/backnum/antenna/antenna_kiji.php?no=1632 "The "Top Operations" for destroying the Yamaguchi-gumi Kodo-kai, arresting from the kumicho to the number 3"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002211434/http://www.kinyobi.co.jp/backnum/antenna/antenna_kiji.php?no=1632 |date=2011-10-02 }}, December 17, 2010, ''Weekly Friday'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> The Kodo-kai is notorious for its defiant attitude toward the official, and has dispensed with the yakuza's traditional policy of co-operating with the police.<ref name="guardian"/>

The Kodo-kai has been one of the wealthiest clans in the Yamaguchi-gumi, with an immense working capital estimated at around $5 billion.<ref name="WF"/>

==History== The Kodo-kai was founded in 1984 by Shinobu Tsukasa<ref name="PWP2010">[http://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/h22/honbun/pdf/22p02000.pdf "2010 Police White Paper Chapter 2 : Furtherance of Organized Crime Countermeasures, Columun 1 : Kodo-kai Countermeasures"], 2010, ''National Police Agency'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> with 24 other members including Kiyoshi Takayama.<ref name="WF"/> At this time, Tsukasa became a formal member of the Fourth Yamaguchi-gumi. When the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi started in May 1989, Tsukasa assumed the position of ''wakagashira-hosa'' (one of the third-ranking bosses). [[File:Nagoya Station at Night 3280199097.jpg|thumb|right|260px|The Kodo-kai's territories include Sakae, the largest downtown in the Nagoya area.<ref>[http://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/-/783 "Police internal document with a strategy for destroying the 'Kodo-kai'"], July 7, 2010, ''Gendai Business'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref>]] Kiyoshi Takayama was promoted to the number-two boss (''wakagashira'') in 1989, and to the 2nd president (''kaicho'') in March 2005.<ref name="PWP2010"/> The Kodo-kai expanded under Takayama's administration,<ref name="PWP2010"/> and by late 2009 its total membership reached 4,000.<ref name="WF"/>

Takayama became a formal member of the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi in April, 2005, and assumed the position of ''wakagashira-hosa'' in June, 2005. And when Tsukasa became the ''kumicho'' (Godfather) of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi in July 2005, his Kodo-kai partner Takayama was given the position of the ''wakagashira'' (number-two boss) on August 8.<ref>[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070214f1.html "From rackets to real estate, yakuza multifaceted"], February 14, 2007, ''The Japan Times''</ref>

==Era== ===1st (1984–2005)=== Shinobu Tsukasa, also one of the third-ranking bosses (''wakagashira-hosa'') of the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi and the founding head of the Tsukasa-kogyo. He would later become the head of the Hirota-gumi and the supreme boss of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi.

===2nd (2005–)=== Kiyoshi Takayama who is the number-two boss (''wakagashira'') of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi and the founding head of the Takayama-gumi, and former chief director (''rijicho'') of the Ryoshin-kai.

==Activities== Described as a "financial mafia" by a former officer of the Aichi Prefectural Police Department, the Kodo-kai's activities include banking or investment banking for the criminal underworld.<ref name="WF"/> The Kodo-kai is allegedly also very active and powerful in traditional "yakuza-friendly" businesses, such as the real estate business, securities business and show business.<ref name="gendai780">[http://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/print/780 "Police's 'Yamaguchi-gumi Cleanup Operation' behind the O-zumo's 'Baseball Gambling'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119111244/https://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/print/780 |date=2021-01-19 }}, July 1, 2010, ''Gendai Business'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref>

A senior member of another Yamaguchi-affiliate has revealed that the Kodo-kai manages a private intelligence organization which specializes in espionage including police-targeted intelligence.<ref>[http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/110121/crm11012113080213-n2.htm "Muddy Stream of Doubt : One year until the Yamaguchi-gumi kumicho's prison release, Will there be any 'industry reorganization'? Boryokudan maneuver to assemble information" 2/5] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106212818/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/110121/crm11012113080213-n2.htm |date=2011-11-06 }}, May 2, 2010, ''Sankei Shimbun'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref>

According to Japanese media sources, the organization is among the most profitable of all the yakuza factions in Japan. Kodo-kai reportedly raked in an immense amount of money by being the sole supplier of rock, sand, and gravel for the Chūbu Centrair International Airport construction project. The organization continues to earn large revenue by controlling the stevedoring and warehousing companies at the Port of Nagoya, and having a monopoly on sex-oriented establishments in the Nagoya area.<ref>''Sentaku Magazine'' (reprinted in the ''Japan Times''), "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/10/23/commentary/japan-commentary/kodokai-still-raking-funds-despite-tougher-yakuza-laws/ Kodo-kai still raking in funds despite tougher yakuza laws]", 23 October 2015</ref>

==Affiliates== The Kodo-kai's known branch organizations have included : *'''Seibu Rengo''', based in Hakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu.<ref>[http://kyushu.yomiuri.co.jp/news/national/20110627-OYS1T00199.htm "The Kodo-kai Kyushu top is arrested, relating to the construction works for the Nagasaki University Hospital"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630032502/http://kyushu.yomiuri.co.jp/news/national/20110627-OYS1T00199.htm |date=2011-06-30 }}, June 25, 2011, ''Yomiuri Shimbun'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> *'''Komatsu-gumi''', based in Tokyo. Launched around 1987, Komatsu-gumi have its offices in several districts in Tokyo, including Taito and Minato.<ref>[http://www.47news.jp/CN/201101/CN2011012901000261.html "Yamaguchi-gumi Kodo-kai affiliate kumicho is arrested, on suspicion of extorting"], January 29, 2011, ''47 News'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> *'''Koike-gumi''', based in Chiba.<ref>[http://www.chibanippo.co.jp/news/chiba/society_kiji.php?i=nesp1295589794 "Kodo-kai affiliate kumicho is arrested, on suspicion of a car loan fraud"], January 21, 2011, ''Chiba Nippo'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> *'''Fukushima Rengo''', based in Sapporo, Hokkaido.<ref>[http://www.47news.jp/news/2011/01/post_20110118141401.html "Nine are arrested for unregistered loaning, the system finance belonging to the Kodo-kai"], January 18, 2011, ''47 News'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> *'''Jido-kai''', based in Nagano, Nagano, the largest Kodo affiliate in Nagano Prefecture.<ref>[http://www.asahi.com/national/jiji/JJT201012040121.html "Kodo-kai wakagashira-hosa is arrested on suspicion of fraud — Aomori, Nagano Police"], December 4, 2010, ''Asahi Shimbun'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> *'''Omi-ikka''', based in Otsu, Shiga. The Omi-ikka was founded in 2003 by the eldest son of Tokutaro Takayama, the fourth president of the Kyoto-based Aizukotetsu-kai.<ref>[http://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/print/1620 "The background of the arrest of the wakagashira Kiyoshi Takayama, is a fierce conflict for the 'Kyoto concession'!"], November 25, 2010, ''Gendai Business'' {{in lang|ja}}</ref> among others.

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Organizations established in 1984 Category:1984 establishments in Japan Category:Yakuza groups Category:Yamaguchi-gumi