Yakuza boss arrested over 1998 murder

Another 2 Japanese falsely convicted then...if Nomura Satoru fired the fatal gunshot, why were 2 of his lieutenants arrested instead?

Huge leap of logic there to say that they were falsely convicted based on what is stated in this article. It just says they were arrested over the incident, it doesn`t say they were convicted for pulling the trigger. Likely they helped him carry out or cover up the murder, making them accessories.

The way the j-cops pussy foot around the Yaks really makes me laugh. The cops know who they are. They know what they are doing, but they do bugger all about shutting them down. Just being part of a gang is illegal in Japan, not that anyone would know. Every two or three years they arrest some Yak head with a hundred cops just to make it look like they are doing something. Meanwhile, the rest of their activities go on unabated. I just can't understand why the j-cops don't move in and shut them down altogether. They are aware if the operations and know who the ringleaders are. It's a farce!

Katheryn Sanday The term 'in company' with regard to legislation usually equates to a harsher sentence as it is. The facts of this case aren't disclosed in its entirety so it'd be misguided to make such am assumption that the two were"falsely convicted".

That many people required to apprehend a 67-year old man? Let's go a bit easier on the spending here, shall we?

@Laguna. Apparently you're not very knowledgeable about the Yakuza. He was the main boss of one of Japan's most notorious criminal organizations, known for having issues with authorities. Perhaps it wasn't the "old man" they were well guarded from, but the thousands of arguably armed underdogs that he has.

That many people required to apprehend a 67-year old man? Let's go a bit easier on the spending here, shall we?

Another 2 Japanese falsely convicted then

No. Another 2 scumbags that the police could not get enough evidence to convict.

Why does this suspect get the curtain treatment, why can't his photo or image be taken? Umbrellas from the front door to the vehicle taking his sorry self to the police station, ok, BUT a curtain? What gives with that! As for any organised criminal, get a proper job!

"Point-black range"???

Do you need to be retired to join the Yakuza? All these yakuza members that get caught lately are all so old. Ive never heard of a 25 year old yakuza member getting caught.

Nomuras vast residence in Kitakyushu

I call that a castle

At the very end of the FNN news segment shown here the reporter says that 3,800 investigators have been put to the task of putting an end to ("annihilating") the Kudokai (捜査員３８００人体制で工藤会の壊滅を目指すとしています。).

I am surprised that a top leader of the crime syndicate would himself perform the dirty work of taking out the leader of the fishermen's cooperative. Gang boss Nomura must have really had it out for the guy, because almost invariably the yakuza's MO is to pawn these hits off on low-level patsies or poor saps drowning in high-interest gambling debts owed to the mob.

Sensato, according to wikipedia he only became the boss in 2008 so he was probably still working his way up the corporate ladder back in 1998.

Don't think he joined Kudou-kai recently. In order to go head of such violent yakuza ikka, one began at early age. In this case, his speciailty in organization must be violence . At least 50 years of Yakuza life. Police shielded him. In Japan's yakuza society, he is now the target of assassin. Need to get his confessions of other crimes,. Dead yakuzas can not supply info. Lt. means oh-Aniki or Oh-oji (if old) and they are just like Sr Executives in corporations, They plan and preside actuvities such as extortion, murders, in many cases robberies, too. Can't say they are innocent. Kyo-bo is not a correct words. Shu-bou as they are planners of crime. Not conspirators. Top or old, their habit of murdering did not age. Just it is his habit to shoot people on public. Sometimes to show off he hasn't forgot his skill. Sometimes, scare away onlookers. (eye witnesses)

Police had to be careful. It is not like other yakuzas, You never can tell members attacks police with weapons. Needed so many cops as this is a war against Kudou-Kai.

The SWAT team orderly files into the Kudokai headquarters.

Here in Japan, the police have to fight both the yakuza and the popular perception that these fagins are modern Robin Hoods. The crime families are not above dabbling in smuggling, loan-sharking, extortion and strong-arm offenses that range from strike-breaking and terrorizing corporate rivals to out-and-out murder for hire.

Whatever you do in life to other people, whether good or bad, the same will return to you maybe not in the exact same way, and the payback is a mess.

I'm afraid this might lead to the assumption that all suffering has a reason - a morally treacherous conclusion to draw. Is it true there is no plea bargaining in Japan? If not, they should introduce it to bring these criminals down once and for all.

Why does this suspect get the curtain treatment, why can't his photo or image be taken? Umbrellas from the front door to the vehicle taking his sorry self to the police station, ok, BUT a curtain?

Yaks - especially the higher-level ones - have friends in politics and the police force here, which may explain his "special privacy privileges". (It may also explain why it took almost 2 decades to nab the guy!)

Whatever you do in life to other people, whether good or bad, the same will return to you maybe not in the exact same way, and the payback is a mess.

i've read somewhere that the yakuza has a special method of eliminating bodies.. nothing was left behind..

Kathryn Sanday - Another 2 Japanese falsely convicted then...if Nomura Satoru fired the fatal gunshot, why were 2 of his lieutenants arrested instead?

Maybe the lieutenants took the fall for the boss ...

@Educator60: I was pointing out to usual media sloppiness. Not blaming them but many of them has LLB degrees and should use appropriate terms.

Back to topic, Radie: Yakuzas usually display murdered victims body to show off. Not all yakuza organizations are vicious as Kudou-kai. And when two yaluza groups have problems with violence, big oyabuns in other areas organize Te-uchi-shiki (mediation ceremony) to be held by the area's peaceful oyabun. You might not believe this but to make area peaceful, in some case, police chief and mayor join to ask the local oyabun who are usually gambling business bosses. .

Looks like a waste of police manpower to me!

@Kathryn Sanday They are not convicted yet. They are just arrested. There haven't been court hearing yet/

Another 2 Japanese falsely convicted then...if Nomura Satoru fired the fatal gunshot, why were 2 of his lieutenants arrested instead?