Toa-kai
The Toa-kai (東亜会, Tōa-kai) is a yakuza syndicate based in Tokyo with a predominantly Korean Japanese membership. "Toa-kai" is also the name of the East Asia Association, a patriotic society in Meiji era Japan, which later merged with the Dōbunkai headed by Konoe Atsumaro to form the Tōa Dobunkai in 1898.
History
The group was formed by Hisayuki Machii, a Korean Japanese mob boss,[1] as the Tosei-kai (東声会, Tōsei-kai; "Voice of the East Gang") in 1948.[2] The Tosei-kai was originally a reported right-wing organization of anti-communist activism, which was in conflict with the North Korea-associated General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.[1]
The Tosei-kai quickly became one of Tokyo's most powerful gangs,[2] and had significantly expanded during the time of the post-war economic growth. Membership reached 1,500 in the 1960s.[1] As the leader of the syndicate, Machii became an essential "fixer" between Japan and South Korea.[3]
Increasing police crackdowns by 1965 forced Machii to disband the Tosei-kai and establish a new gang, the Tōa Yūai Jigyō Kumiai (東亜友愛事業組合), or "East Asia Friendship Enterprise Association". [citation needed] He also formed a "legitimate" company called the Tōa Sōgo Kigyō (東亜相互企業), or East Asia Enterprises Company, with the famous Yoshio Kodama as Chairman of the Board. Afterwards, the Toa Yuai Jigyo Kumiai changed the name as Tōa Yūai (東亜友愛) and Toa-kai.
The founder Machii retired in the 1980s,[3] and died of heart failure on September 14, 2002 in Tokyo. Also known as a successful businessman, he was 79.[4]
Territory
The Toa-kai's notable branch organizations include the Yoshimi-kogyo (誼興業).[5] The Yoshimi-kogyo is the Toa-kai's only branch organization based outside of Tokyo.[6] Based on the Okinawa island, the Yoshimi-kogyo is one of the three major yakuza groups in the island, along with the Kyokuryu-kai and the Okinawa Kyokuryu-kai.[7]
Okinawa's underworld has been known for its exclusiveness since the 20th century, where the dominating Kyokuryu-kai has persistently attacked and violently expelled any yakuza syndicate attempting to enter the island. The reason why the Toa-kai has been able to active on the island may be because the group has historically been more oriented to legitimate businesses, and of its gentle stance, in contrast to other yakuza syndicates which have attempted to expand their influences into Okinawa with heavy violence, such as the Yamaguchi-gumi and especially the Dojin-kai.
For example in 2002 in Okinawa, only one Yoshimi member was arrested, while 56 Kyokuryu-kai members and 95 Okinawa Kyokuryu-kai members were arrested.[1]
Leadership
- President: Yoshio Kaneumi
References
- ^ a b c "Overview of a 'heretic' of post-war history", April 2009, The Facta Magazine Template:Ja icon
- ^ a b c Yakuza: Japan's criminal underworld, p.228, 2003, David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro, ISBN 0520215621
- ^ a b "Hisayuki Machii - Top 10 Real-Life Mob Bosses", 20 January 2011, TIME
- ^ "Mr. Hisayuki Machii passes away", 21 September 2002, 47 News, Kyodo Template:Ja icon
- ^ "Boryokudan Expulsion Manual", July 2011, Okinawa Prefectural Police Template:Ja icon
- ^ "Toa-kai", Yakuza WIki Template:Ja icon
- ^ "Boryokudan condition in the prefecture", October 2007, Okinawa Prefectural Conference for the Expulsion of the Boryokudan Template:Ja icon