Kudokai yakuza group undergoes leadership change

The top leader has changed for Kudokai, a legally designated yakuza crime syndicate based in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, the Fukuoka Prefectural Public Safety Commission announced Thursday in an official gazette.

Fumio Tanoue, who is 70 and Kudokai’s chairman, will replace Satoru Nomura, 79. Nomura became the group’s leader in 2011, investigative sources said.

Nomura has effectively led the syndicate for 26 years, according to media reports.

“This is only one of the phases, and we will never ease up on our efforts until the group is eradicated,” a senior prefectural police official said.

Nomura was indicted on murder and organized attempted murder for his involvement in four attacks on citizens, and he was sentenced to death by the Fukuoka District Court. He is currently being detained at the Fukuoka Detention House, according to the reports.

In the appeal trial, the Fukuoka High Court overturned his death sentence and downgraded his punishment to life imprisonment in March 2024. He has appealed to the Supreme Court.

In March this year, the Fukuoka Prefectural Police obtained a notice that Kudokai had sent to other groups saying Nomura had retired.

In late June, the police judged that Nomura has mostly lost his grip on the organization and reported the change in leadership to the public safety commission.

Nomura’s home that doubled as his office has been subject to a restriction order since 2014 to prevent Kudokai members from using the place for conspiracy, but authorities lifted the order, which had been extended many times.