Kiyoshi Takayama

Takayama Kiyoshi
髙山 清司
Born (1947-09-05) September 5, 1947 (age 77)
NationalityJapanese
OccupationYakuza
Years active1967-Present
Known forThe number-two position (Wakagashira) of Yamaguchi-gumi
Allegiance Yamaguchi-gumi
Criminal chargeBlackmail
Penalty6 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]