 |
| Jiro Kiyota from YAKUZA's Inagawa-kai (Amazon) |
Jiro Kiyota, former head honcho of the Inagawa-kai—Japan’s third-largest designated yakuza syndicate—has died at the age of 84, multiple sources confirmed this week. He passed away on 21 April in a hospital in Kawasaki City, where he’d been receiving treatment for a prolonged illness.
Kiyota, whose real name was Shin Byung-kyu (yes, he was of Korean descent), had reportedly been in a critical condition since late last year.
He’s believed to have died of natural causes, most likely due to illness, though authorities have been tight-lipped on specifics.
Jiro Kiyota’s name still carries weight in Japan’s underworld. He first took the reins as the Inagawa-kai’s fifth official boss back in 2010.
In 2019, he stepped down from active leadership, passing the torch to Kazuo Uchibori, who became the group’s sixth head. Kiyota then took on the more advisory-style title of “sōsai” (supreme advisor), a role often reserved for retired senior figures still wielding influence.
Under his watch, the Inagawa-kai maintained its hold across 17 prefectures, particularly in the Tokyo-Kanagawa region. While smaller than the notorious Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai, the Inagawa-kai is still a major player, with around 2,800 members and affiliates as of the end of 2024, according to the National Police Agency.
Interestingly, as recently as October 2024, the syndicate was reportedly reshuffling internal ranks—seen by police as an effort to re-energise its structure and reinforce its foothold in Kanto and beyond.
 |
| (Sankei) |
Despite increased police crackdowns and Japan’s growing anti-yakuza laws, Inagawa-kai has managed to keep relationships steady with some Kanto-based organisations and even maintain a certain balance with the powerful Yamaguchi-gumi.
Jiro Kiyota’s passing marks the quiet close of a chapter for one of the most recognisable figures in Japan’s modern criminal history.
While his public profile remained mostly in the shadows, those in the know considered him a shrewd tactician—one who kept the Inagawa-kai relevant during a time when yakuza influence was being systematically chipped away by law and social pressure.
No word yet on how the group will formally commemorate him, but insiders suggest internal movements might follow soon—especially as power balances within these organisations often shift subtly when old leaders pass.
We’ll keep an eye on developments behind the scenes. In the underworld, change always comes quietly—but it never comes without consequence.
Source: Sankei