Yoshinori Watanabe

Yoshinori Watanabe
Born(1941-01-05)January 5, 1941
Mibu, Tochigi prefecture, Japan
Died(2012-12-01)December 1, 2012 (age 71)
Kobe, Japan
OccupationYakuza
Known for5th Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi

Yoshinori Watanabe (渡辺 芳則, Watanabe Yoshinori, January 5, 1941 – December 1, 2012) was a yakuza, the fifth kumicho (chairman or Godfather) of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza organization. He became kumicho in 1989.[1] He was known for a more low-key approach than his predecessors, partly due to an anti-gang law passed in 1992.[2] He retired in 2005.[3]

  1. ^ Viviano, Frank (May–June 1995). "The New Mafia Order". Mother Jones Magazine. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  2. ^ Johnston, Eric (19 July 1999). "Yamaguchi-gumi don celebrates a decade at the top". Japan Times. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).