| Yakuza | |
|---|---|
|
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| Presumed Origin | the Kabuki-mono |
| Creation | 17th century |
| Actual Number | 86 300 members[1] |
| Principals clans |
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| Activities | Blackmail, Illegal gambling, Casino, Prostitution, Smuggling |
Tōa kai (東亜会) is a Japanese yakuza syndicate with a predominantly Korean Japanese membership. It was founded by Hisayuki Machii (町井 久之 Machii Hisayuki, born 鄭 建永 Chong Gwon Yong; 1923 - 2002) AKA "the Ginza Tiger" (銀座の虎)and currently has around 1,000 members. "Tōa-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.
The group was founded as the Tōsei-kai (東声会) in 1948, and quickly became one of Tokyo's most powerful gangs. 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 (東亜会).
References
- ^ "Criminal Investigation: Fight Against Organized Crime (1)". Overview of Japanese Police. National Police Agency. June 2007. http://www.npa.go.jp/english/kokusai/pdf/Poj2007-33.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
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Leadership
- kaicho: Yoshio Kaneumi
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