Takayama Kiyoshi | |
|---|---|
髙山 清司 | |
| Born | September 5, 1947 Tsushima, Aichi, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupation | Yakuza |
| Years active | 1967-Present |
| Known for | The number-two position (Wakagashira) of Yamaguchi-gumi |
| Allegiance |  Yamaguchi-gumi |
| Criminal charge | Blackmail |
| Penalty | 6 years' imprisonment (2014) |
Kiyoshi Takayama (髙山 清司, Takayama Kiyoshi, born September 5, 1947[1] in Tsushima, Aichi[1]) is a yakuza best known as the second-in-command (wakagashira) of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan, and the president of its ruling affiliate, Kodo-kai, based in Nagoya.[2]
Takayama has been considered the key person in the entire history of the Kodo-kai and behind the sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, being kept under close surveillance by the National Police Agency. The National Police Agency once distributed a report on its operations against the Yamaguchi-gumi to every police department across the country, which had a special section devoted to him and even made reference to his personality.[3]
In 2012, the Obama administration of the United States imposed sanctions on him as the second-in-command of the Yamaguchi-gumi.[4] The sanctions also targeted Kenichi Shinoda as the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi, along with several individuals linked to three other transnational organized crime groups, the Brothers' Circle of Russia, the Camorra of Italy, and the Los Zetas of Mexico.[5]
- ^ a b "Pre-Notification For Upcoming Designation Of Transnational Organized Criminal Elements : Identifying Information : Yakuza : Entity 1 : Yamaguchi-gumi : Person 2 : Kiyoshi Takayama" (p. 2) Malta Financial Services Authority
- ^ "Yamaguchi-gumi's No. 2 to go free on ¥1.5 billion bail during extortion trial" Archived 2012-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, 13 June 2012, The Japan Times
- ^ "The "Top Operations" for destroying the Yamaguchi-gumi Kodo-kai, arresting from the kumicho to the number 3" Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine, December 17, 2010, Weekly Friday (in Japanese)
- ^ "US steps up offensive against Japan's yakuza gangs", 24 February 2012, The Guardian
- ^ "US moves to isolate Russian, Japanese crime groups", 23 February 2012, AFP