Ties of the Underworld - The Dojinkai and the Shadow of Yukitaka Maeda (1971-2024)

Ties of the Underworld - The Dojinkai and the Shadow of Yukitaka Maeda (1971-2024)
In the early 1970s, Kyushu was riding the wave of rapid economic growth after a brief period of postwar reconstruction, but regional disparities were deepening and underworld activities were expanding around the cities, especially in the construction, port, and transportation industries. The Dōnin-kai, which was born in Kurume, Fukuoka, had a "land and labor community" aspect born from the undercurrents of such a society, and was founded in 1971 by Isoji Koga I. Entering the postwar era when gangs were closely tied to the economy, they became increasingly influential around local industry, public works, and finance.
Yukitaka Maeda is believed to be the first of the Maeda family within the Dojinkai, but the details are shrouded in mystery. His name rarely appears in public documents, which is believed to be due to his role as a mediator and money manager within the organization, and his avoidance of overt action. The Kurume-based Dojinkai, while deepening its ties with the local political and business world, expanded its power through repeated battles with outside forces such as the Yamaguchigumi and Kudo-kai. The group became a feared "Chikugo no Don" throughout Kyushu.
In the Yamamichi War of the 1980s, nine members were killed in a clash with the Yamaguchigumi. In the 2000s, the "Kyushu War" broke out between the Yamaguchigumi and the Kyushu Seidokai, which split from the Yamaguchigumi due to internal strife. The number of reported incidents during the 2006-2013 conflict period exceeded 40, attracting national attention. Concerned about the deterioration of public safety, the police established a centralized gang control headquarters in the Chikugo region, and promoted the cutting off of funding sources and the removal of offices.
After this period of bloodshed, in the late 2010s, a reconciliation was sought between the Dōin-kai and the Namikawa-kai. It was not until 2021 that the two formerly hostile groups announced their "simultaneous retirement" and the end of their feud, marking a major change in the composition of the Kyushu underworld. Behind this change was the reality that traditional territorial organizations could no longer function due to the Gang Exclusion Ordinance and the globalization of the economy.
In 2024, Kenichi Fukuda V assumed the position of chairman. He is known as a calm strategist and is building a new structure that emphasizes "fund management, real estate operation, and social cooperation" over violence. Centered in Kurume, the group can now be seen ostensibly operating as a corporate group. Meanwhile, the police are wary of the movement as "economic incubation.
The modern Dōnin-kai is transforming from violence to economy, from territory to network. The blood-soaked strife of the past and the quietly flowing underside of modern capital. Running through both poles are the bonds of "geo-kin, kin, and giri" peculiar to Kyushu society. The shadow of Yukitaka Maeda may still be supporting the "dark current" of the organization as a coordinator who lived at this turning point of the times.
References and related information
- History of Boryokudan Anti-Gang Conflicts in Kyushu, National Police Agency, Public Relations (2023 edition)
- Atsushi Mizoguchi, "Blood Feud: The Reality of Yakuza War in Kyushu" (Kodansha Bunko)
- NHK "Kyushu Underworld Today" documentary (broadcast in 2022)
- Wikipedia, "Dojinkai," "Kyushu Seidokai," "Namikawa-kai