Police battling against crime syndicate

Police battling against crime syndicate

TOKYO, Japan - The National Police Agency holds a meeting on countermeasures against Japan's largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, and its largest gang, Kodokai, on Jan. 26, 2011, at the agency in Tokyo. The agency ordered police officials from across Japan in charge of investigating organized crimes to give the syndicate a decisive blow through investigation before the release in April from prison of its boss Kenichi Shinoda, commonly known as Shinobu Tsukasa.

Japan's yakuza head released

Japan's yakuza head released

KOBE, Japan - Kenichi Shinoda (C), the head of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate, arrives at a train station in Kobe city, where the group's headquarters are located, after being released from prison in Tokyo on April 9, 2011. Shinoda, who was arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being involved in the possession of a gun by a member of his yakuza gang, served time since December 2005. (Kyodo)

Japanxs's yakuza head released

Japanxs's yakuza head released

KOBE, Japan - Kenichi Shinoda, the head of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate, arrives at a train tation in Kobe city, where the group's headquarters are located, after being released from prison in Tokyo on April 9, 2011. Shinoda, who was arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being involved in the possession of a gun by a member of his yakuza gang, served time since December 2005. (Kyodo)

Japan's yakuza head released

Japan's yakuza head released

KOBE, Japan - Kenichi Shinoda (C), the head of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate, visits a grave in Kobe, after being released from prison in Tokyo on April 9, 2011. Shinoda, who was arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being involved in the possession of a gun by a member of his yakuza gang, served time since December 2005. (Kyodo)

CORRECTED Japan's yakuza head released

CORRECTED Japan's yakuza head released

KOBE, Japan - CORRECTING HEADLINE Kenichi Shinoda, the head of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate, arrives at a train tation in Kobe city, where the group's headquarters are located, after being released from prison in Tokyo on April 9, 2011. Shinoda, who was arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being involved in the possession of a gun by a member of his yakuza gang, served time since December 2005. (Kyodo)

Japan's yakuza head released

Japan's yakuza head released

KOBE, Japan - Kenichi Shinoda (C), the head of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest crime syndicate, arrives at the head office of the group in Kobe, after being released from prison in Tokyo on April 9, 2011. Shinoda, who was arrested in 1997 on suspicion of being involved in the possession of a gun by a member of his yakuza gang, served time since December 2005. (Kyodo)

Police battling against crime syndicate

Police battling against crime syndicate

TOKYO, Japan - The National Police Agency holds a meeting on countermeasures against Japan's largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, and its largest gang, Kodokai, on Jan. 26, 2011, at the agency in Tokyo. The agency ordered police officials from across Japan in charge of investigating organized crimes to give the syndicate a decisive blow through investigation before the release in April from prison of its boss Kenichi Shinoda, commonly known as Shinobu Tsukasa. (Kyodo)