Kazuo Taoka
Encyclopedia
was one of the most prominent yakuza
Godfather
s.
Known as the "Godfather of Godfathers", Taoka was third kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi
, Japan
's largest yakuza organization, from 1946 to 1981.
Taoka, an orphan
, grew up as a young street fighter in Kobe
under the guidance of Noboru Yamaguchi
, the Yamaguchi-gumi's boss. He earned his lifelong nickname "Kuma" ("the Bear") due to his signature attack of clawing at an opponent's eyes. He was imprisoned
for murder from 1937 to 1943, and assumed the role of kumicho three years later at the age of 33.
In 1972 Taoka forged an alliance between the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai
at a sakazuki ceremony at his home.
He had survived a 1978 assassination attempt when he was shot in the back of the neck by a member of the Matsuda-gumi (松田組), a rival gang to the Yamaguchi-gumi, during a limbo dance exhibition at a nightclub in Kyoto
. His attacker was found dead several weeks later in some woods near Kobe
.
He led the Yamaguchi-gumi until his death from a heart attack
in 1981. His wife, Fumiko, briefly filled the gang's leadership role until a new kumicho, Masahisa Takenaka
, was chosen in 1984.
From 1983 until 1990 his daughter, Yuki, was married to Kitaro
, a noted Japanese New Age music
ian.
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
Godfather
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
s.
Known as the "Godfather of Godfathers", Taoka was third kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi
Yamaguchi-gumi
is Japan's largest and most infamous yakuza organization. It is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi. Its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe pre-WWII....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's largest yakuza organization, from 1946 to 1981.
Taoka, an orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
, grew up as a young street fighter in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
under the guidance of Noboru Yamaguchi
Noboru Yamaguchi
was the second kumicho, or Godfather, of the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza gang in Japan.He assumed control of the gang in 1925 upon the death of his father, the gang's founder, Harukichi Yamaguchi. He ruled until the outbreak of World War II in 1942. He was succeeded in 1946 by his protege, Kazuo Taoka....
, the Yamaguchi-gumi's boss. He earned his lifelong nickname "Kuma" ("the Bear") due to his signature attack of clawing at an opponent's eyes. He was imprisoned
Penal system of Japan
The Penal system of Japan is part of the criminal justice system of Japan. It is intended to resocialize, reform, and rehabilitate offenders...
for murder from 1937 to 1943, and assumed the role of kumicho three years later at the age of 33.
In 1972 Taoka forged an alliance between the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai
Inagawa-kai
The is the third largest of Japan's yakuza groups, with approximately 15,000 members. It is based in the Kanto region, and was one of the first yakuza organizations to begin operating overseas.-History:...
at a sakazuki ceremony at his home.
He had survived a 1978 assassination attempt when he was shot in the back of the neck by a member of the Matsuda-gumi (松田組), a rival gang to the Yamaguchi-gumi, during a limbo dance exhibition at a nightclub in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. His attacker was found dead several weeks later in some woods near Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
.
He led the Yamaguchi-gumi until his death from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1981. His wife, Fumiko, briefly filled the gang's leadership role until a new kumicho, Masahisa Takenaka
Masahisa Takenaka
was the short-lived 4th kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza gang.He took the role of kumicho in 1984, but was assassinated at a girlfriend's home in Osaka early the next year by a rival faction, the Ichiwa-kai. The killing sparked a massive yakuza war, the Yama-Ichi War, in...
, was chosen in 1984.
From 1983 until 1990 his daughter, Yuki, was married to Kitaro
Kitaro
, better known as , is an award winning Japanese musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of new age music.-Early life:...
, a noted Japanese New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
ian.