Battle between major Japanese gangster syndicates

Battle between major Japanese gangster syndicates

TOKYO, Japan, April 25 Kyodo - File photo taken on April 18, 1985, shows a pistol and bullets confiscated by police who were investigating a fierce battle between Japan's two largest underground gangster syndicates -- Yamaguchi-gumi and Ichiwa-kai -- in the 1980s.

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

KOBE, Japan, April 25 Kyodo - A bullet hole (arrow mark) is seen on the front window of a vehicle ridden by members of the Ichiwa-kai underground gangster syndicate in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on April 14, 1985. A shooter belonging to Ichiwa-kai's rival, Yamaguchi-gumi, opened fire at the vehicle when it was parked at a crossing in the western Japan city earlier in the day.

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

YAWATA, Japan, April 25 Kyodo - Police investigators search a residence of the leader of a group affiliated with the Ichiwa-kai underground gangster syndicate in Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture, on April 14, 1985, following a shooting incident blamed on Ichiwa-kai's rival, Yamaguchi-gumi, that left two affiliate group members injured.

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

Fierce battle between major Japanese underground syndicates

OSAKA, Japan, April 25 Kyodo - Riot police officers confront members of the Yamaguchi-gumi underground gangster syndicate to keep them at bay from Osaka Police Hospital in the western Japan city on Jan. 26, 1985. The syndicate's leader Masahisa Takenaka was admitted to the hospital earlier in the day after being shot by members belonging to the syndicate's rival, Ichiwa-kai.