Yamaken-gumi


The Fourth 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. 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 of the Yamaken-gumi from 1982 to 1989 before becoming kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi. 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 is Kunio Inoue. The number-two is Kuniharu Yamamoto.

Leadership