1. Overview
Hisayuki Machii, born 정건영Jeong Geon-yeongKorean, was a prominent Zainichi Korean businessman and a powerful yakuza boss who founded the notorious Tosei-kai gang in post-war Japan. Nicknamed the "Ginza Tiger" (銀座の虎Ginza no ToraJapanese) and "Bull," Machii exerted significant influence over both the Japanese underworld and legitimate business sectors, especially within the Zainichi Korean community. His career spanned the turbulent post-World War II era, marked by involvement in black markets, strategic alliances with powerful figures like Yoshio Kodama and Kazuo Taoka, and alleged participation in controversial political events, including the kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung. Despite leading an organized crime syndicate, Machii also held positions such as president of Toa Sogo Kigyo and chairman of Pugwan Ferry, and served as an advisor to the Zainichi Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan). His life reflects the complex interplay of organized crime, politics, and ethnic identity in modern Japanese history, particularly highlighting the challenges and roles of Zainichi Koreans in a society often resistant to their integration.
2. Early Life and Background
Hisayuki Machii's early life was shaped by his identity as a Zainichi Korean and the tumultuous post-war environment in Japan, which provided fertile ground for his initial ventures into the black market and early business enterprises.
2.1. Birth and Korean Heritage
Hisayuki Machii was born 정건영Jeong Geon-yeongKorean on July 20, 1923, in Minami-Sakuma Cho, Shiba Ward, Tokyo, Empire of Japan. He was a first-generation Zainichi Korean, a term referring to ethnic Koreans who are long-term residents of Japan.
2.2. Childhood and Return to Tokyo
During his early childhood, Machii was left in the care of his grandmother in Seoul, which was then known as Keijō under Imperial Japanese occupation. He returned to Tokyo when he was thirteen years old, rejoining his family in Japan.
2.3. Post-War Black Market Activities
Following the end of World War II in 1945, Machii became deeply involved in Japan's burgeoning post-war black market. He initially served as the vice-chairman of the Tokyo Headquarters of the Chosun Kenkoku Seinen Domei (朝鮮建国青年同盟Chosun Kenkoku Seinen DomeiJapanese, Korean Nation-Building Youth League). This period was characterized by widespread shortages and economic disruption, allowing individuals like Machii to capitalize on the demand for goods and services outside official channels.
2.4. Founding of Early Enterprises
During this time, Machii established two key companies: 中央商会Chūō ShōkaiJapanese, an `event-ya` (a term for fixers or troubleshooters often operating in legal gray areas), and 中央興行社Chūō KōgyōshaJapanese, an entertainment company. These ventures were strategically positioned to exploit the financial system of the time, particularly the inability of Japanese citizens to easily cash Procurement Demands (PDs), which were similar to checks issued by the GHQ for procurement. Companies like Machii's, often located near exchange windows in areas like Shinbashi, facilitated the early cashing of these PDs, allowing vast amounts of black market dollars to flow into the civilian economy and generate immense profits. These early enterprises formed the financial and organizational foundation for his later yakuza group, the 町井一家Machii IkkaJapanese (Kanto Machii Ikka), a `gurentai` (hoodlum gang).
3. Founding and Activities of Tosei-kai
The Tosei-kai, founded by Hisayuki Machii, rapidly ascended to become one of Japan's most formidable yakuza organizations, driven by a unique ideology and strategic alliances that allowed it to dominate Tokyo's underworld and operate with relative autonomy even under US occupation.
3.1. Ideology and Formation of Tosei-kai
In 1947, Machii founded the 東声会Tosei-kaiJapanese in Ginza, Tokyo, building upon the foundation of his Machii Ikka. His encounter with Jo Yeong-ju (曺寧柱) significantly influenced his philosophical outlook, leading him to embrace the concept of "Greater Asianism" (大アジア主義Dai-Ajia ShugiJapanese). The Tosei-kai's name, meaning "Voice of the East Gang," reflected this ideology, aiming to "listen to the voice of the East." One of its strategic objectives was to counterbalance the influence of the Zainichi Chosŏn Sŏryŏn (在日朝鮮人連盟Zainichi Chosŏn SŏryŏnJapanese, General Association of Korean Residents in Japan), which was then known as the Zainichi Chosŏn Sŏryŏn. After the establishment of the Republic of Korea, Machii acquired Korean nationality, yet he continued to reside and operate in Japan.
3.2. Expansion and Influence in Tokyo
The Tosei-kai experienced rapid growth, expanding its influence beyond Tokyo to establish branches in cities such as Yokohama, Fujisawa, Hiratsuka, Chiba, Kawaguchi, and Takasaki. By the early 1960s, its membership swelled to approximately 1,600 individuals, making it an exceptionally powerful force in the Japanese underworld. The organization's dominance in Tokyo was such that its members were colloquially referred to as the "Ginza police," signifying their effective control over the district.
3.3. Relations with Other Yakuza Groups
The rapid expansion of the Tosei-kai led to a backlash from other established yakuza organizations, which united against Machii's group, leaving it in a state of isolation. Furthermore, intensified police crackdowns resulted in numerous arrests of Tosei-kai executives. To navigate this precarious situation, Machii sought an alliance with the powerful Yamaguchi-gumi. In 1963, through the mediation of influential fixer Yoshio Kodama, Machii became a 舎弟shateiJapanese (younger brother) to Kazuo Taoka, the third-generation head of the Yamaguchi-gumi. This strategic alliance allowed the Yamaguchi-gumi to operate within Tokyo while securing the Tosei-kai's position. Throughout his career, Machii maintained close ties with both Kodama and Taoka, leveraging these relationships to expand his influence.
3.4. Activities under US Occupation
Machii cultivated strong relationships with the US occupation authorities, largely due to his staunch anti-communist stance. During the occupation years, Tosei-kai members were frequently employed as strikebreakers, aligning with the US objective of suppressing communist influence. Machii himself reportedly collaborated with the United States Counter Intelligence Corps. While leaders of traditional Japanese yakuza groups were subject to imprisonment or strict scrutiny by American forces, Korean yakuza, including Machii, were afforded more freedom to take control of lucrative black markets. Rather than directly challenging the established Japanese crime syndicates, Machii forged alliances with them, which proved instrumental in his rise. His vast criminal empire extended to legitimate businesses, encompassing tourism, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, prostitution, and oil importing. He and Kodama amassed significant wealth through real estate investments. More critically, Machii facilitated agreements between the Korean government and the yakuza, enabling Japanese criminals to establish rackets in Korea, effectively making Korea a "home away from home" for the yakuza. Reflecting his pivotal role as a liaison between the underworlds of both nations, Machii was granted the acquisition of the largest ferry service operating between Shimonoseki, Japan, and Busan, South Korea, which represented the shortest maritime route between the two countries.
4. Major Incidents and Controversies
Hisayuki Machii's career was punctuated by significant criminal incidents and allegations of involvement in politically sensitive events, underscoring the darker aspects of his influence and the complex web of his activities.
4.1. Tanaka Seigen Shooting Incident
On November 9, 1963, at approximately 6:09 PM, a Tosei-kai member named 木下陸男Kinoshita RikuoJapanese shot Tanaka Seigen on a street in front of the Tokyo Kaikan, as Tanaka was leaving a book launch celebration. Police suspected Machii's involvement as the mastermind behind the attack and arrested him on a separate charge under the Firearms and Swords Control Law. However, law enforcement was unable to formally establish a direct link to Machii for the shooting itself, and he was ultimately not prosecuted for the incident. Tanaka Seigen, in his autobiography, later claimed that Kinoshita Rikuo carried out the shooting at the behest of, and for money from, Yoshio Kodama.
4.2. Kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung
Machii was widely believed to have provided assistance to the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) in the 1973 kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung, who was then a leading South Korean opposition figure, from a Tokyo hotel. This incident, a severe violation of international law and human rights, involved Kim Dae-jung being forcibly taken to sea, where he was bound, gagged, blindfolded, and weighted, with the intention that his body would never surface. While direct evidence linking Machii to the KCIA's operation remained largely unconfirmed publicly, American media outlets reported his alleged cooperation in the abduction. This alleged involvement highlights Machii's deep connections to both Japanese and Korean political and intelligence circles, and his willingness to engage in actions that undermined democratic principles and human rights.
5. Dissolution and Reorganization
Facing intensifying police pressure, Hisayuki Machii orchestrated the formal dissolution of the Tosei-kai, subsequently establishing a network of ostensibly legitimate front organizations to continue his extensive business and influence operations under a new guise.
5.1. Dissolution of Tosei-kai
In February 1964, the National Police Agency of Japan designated the Tosei-kai as one of the ten major widespread yakuza organizations and initiated a nationwide crackdown on organized crime, known as the "First Top Operation" (第一次頂上作戦Dai-ichiji Chōjō SakusenJapanese). Under immense police pressure, Machii announced the dissolution of the Tosei-kai on September 1, 1966. A week later, a formal dissolution ceremony was held at Ikegami Honmon-ji in Tokyo, marking Machii's official departure from the public stage of the yakuza underworld.
5.2. Formation of Front Organizations
Despite the formal dissolution, Machii quickly moved to re-establish his operations under a corporate facade. In April 1967, he reformed the Tosei-kai as the 東亜友愛事業協同組合Tōa Yūai Jigyō Kyōdō KumiaiJapanese (East Asia Friendship Enterprises Cooperative), emphasizing a corporate image, and assumed the role of honorary chairman. He continued to provide funding and maintain significant control over its personnel. This organization was soon renamed 東亜友愛事業組合Tōa Yūai Jigyō KumiaiJapanese (East Asia Friendship Enterprises Association), commonly known today as the Toa-kai. The Toa-kai remains an active yakuza group in Japan, with an estimated membership of approximately 1,000 individuals, predominantly composed of ethnic Koreans. Machii's efforts in this regard are credited with paving the way for significant Korean involvement in the Japanese underworld.
Machii also established the Toa Sogo Kigyo Co., Ltd. (東亜相互企業Tōa Sōgo KigyoJapanese, East Asia Enterprises Company), with his close associate Yoshio Kodama serving as its chairman. This company operated legitimate businesses, including the `ryotei` (traditional Japanese restaurant) "Hien" (秘苑HienJapanese) in Ginza. Machii himself officially retired from direct yakuza activities in the 1980s, focusing on these corporate ventures.
6. Later Business Ventures and Legal Issues
Hisayuki Machii's later career was characterized by ambitious business undertakings, including major real estate and transportation projects, which ultimately became entangled in legal and financial controversies, leading to the downfall of his corporate empire.
6.1. TSK/CCC Terminal Building Project
In July 1973, Toa Sogo Kigyo Co., Ltd. inaugurated the TSK/CCC Terminal Building in Roppongi, Tokyo. This ambitious project was financed through a complex arrangement: the Korea Exchange Bank's Tokyo branch provided a payment guarantee of approximately 6.00 B JPY, based on which Toa Sogo Kigyo secured a loan of 5.40 B JPY from the Japan Real Estate Bank (which later became Nippon Credit Bank and then Aozora Bank). Of these funds, 3.30 B JPY were allocated to a comprehensive development project in Nasu Kogen and Shirakawa Kogen, while 2.10 B JPY were specifically used for the construction of the TSK/CCC Terminal Building. The building's construction was largely intended to present Machii as a "successful figure in legitimate society," signaling his supposed break from illegal yakuza activities. Consequently, members of the Tosei-kai were strictly prohibited from entering the offices of Toa Sogo Kigyo and its group companies located within the building.
6.2. Pugwan Ferry Operations
Machii's business empire also included significant interests in transportation. He acquired the largest ferry service operating between Shimonoseki, Japan, and Busan, South Korea, which was the shortest maritime route connecting the two countries. He established the Pugwan Ferry Co., Ltd. (釜関フェリー株式会社Fukan Ferī Kabushiki-gaishaJapanese) in 1969 and commenced its operations. In the late 20th century, driven by increasing travel demand from South Korea's economic growth, the Pugwan Ferry company attempted to expand its services into Japan's Kyushu island. However, this expansion project was ultimately abandoned following a period of intense underworld conflict. Approximately 70 members of the Toa-kai were reportedly shot or stabbed within a single week in Tokyo, an escalation widely believed to be orchestrated by rival yakuza groups. Speculation pointed towards the Kudo-kai, which controlled the Kokura Port, or the Dojin-kai, which dominated most ports in western Kyushu. The prevailing theory suggested that the Dojin-kai attempted to coerce the Toa-kai into collaborating on drug trafficking. Upon the Toa-kai's refusal, the mass attacks began and continued until the Toa-kai decided to abandon the Kyushu project and pay an exorbitant "settlement money" to the Dojin-kai. This type of aggressive gangland attack was historically a hallmark of the Dojin-kai. Many believed that such an incident would not have occurred had Machii still been actively leading the Toa-kai, which at the time was headed by Morihiro Okita, its third-generation president, who had a poor reputation among members due to his perceived weak leadership. Despite these struggles, Pugwan Ferry Co., Ltd. launched a new luxury vessel, the "Sei-ki Go" (星希号Sei-ki GōJapanese), on May 20, 2002. An inauguration ceremony was held in Busan on May 22, attended by prominent figures including Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ryu Jeong-seok, representatives from Busan and Shimonoseki, and the chairman of the Mindan Central Headquarters, Kim Jae-suk. The company's Hiroshima Port office opened in 2002 and operated until its closure in 2005, while the Shimonoseki office remains active today.
6.3. Fukushima Development Scandal and Bankruptcy
Machii's corporate ventures faced a significant setback with the Fukushima development scandal. Regarding the Shirakawa Kogen development project, on July 5, 1976, 黒沢勝利Kurosawa KatsutoshiJapanese and two other individuals from Toa Sogo Kigyo were arrested on charges of bribing Fukushima Prefecture Governor Kimura Morie with 5.00 M JPY. On August 6 of the same year, Governor Kimura Morie was also arrested on bribery charges. Machii himself was voluntarily questioned by authorities in connection with the investigation. Ultimately, in June 1977, Toa Sogo Kigyo defaulted on its payments and declared bankruptcy. Following this financial collapse, Machii largely withdrew from public life, spending most of his time in his private apartment near the TSK/CCC Terminal Building.
7. Personal Life and Influence
Hisayuki Machii's personal life was characterized by a formidable public image and significant influence, particularly within the Zainichi Korean community, and his close relationships with powerful figures in both the underworld and legitimate society.
7.1. Nicknames and Public Image
From a young age, Hisayuki Machii cultivated a reputation for strength and cunning, earning him several colorful nicknames. He was widely known as the "Ginza Tiger" (銀座の虎Ginza no ToraJapanese), reflecting his dominance and ferocity in the Ginza district of Tokyo. He was also frequently referred to as the "Wild Bull" (猛牛MōgyūJapanese), a moniker that underscored his tenacious and aggressive nature. These nicknames contributed to his formidable public persona, solidifying his image as a powerful and unyielding figure in the Japanese underworld.
7.2. Influence within the Zainichi Korean Community
Despite his deep involvement in the underworld, Machii wielded considerable, albeit often hidden, influence within the Zainichi Korean community. He was a significant figure who actively supported Zainichi Korean athletes, serving as a patron and benefactor. His efforts were instrumental in creating pathways for Korean involvement in the Japanese underworld, shaping the dynamics of organized crime in Japan. Furthermore, he held the esteemed position of advisor to the Central Headquarters of the Zainichi Korean Residents Union in Japan. This role highlights his dual identity and his ability to navigate both the illicit and legitimate spheres, providing a degree of leadership and support to his ethnic community.
7.3. Relationships with Prominent Figures
Machii maintained close associations with several highly influential figures. His most significant alliance was with Yoshio Kodama, a powerful right-wing fixer and a key figure in Japan's post-war political and criminal landscape. Their relationship was mutually beneficial, involving joint ventures in real estate and the establishment of front organizations. Machii also had a close relationship with actress Mita Yoshiko, whom he and Kodama reportedly patronized. Mita Yoshiko notably attended the opening reception of the TSK/CCC Terminal Building, a testament to Machii's connections across various segments of Japanese society.
8. Death and Legacy
Hisayuki Machii's final years were marked by declining health, culminating in his death in 2002. His legacy remains complex and multifaceted, encompassing his foundational role in the Tosei-kai, his impact on the Zainichi Korean community, and his controversial involvement in both legitimate business and illicit activities that shaped post-war Japan.
8.1. Later Years and Death
In his later years, Hisayuki Machii suffered significantly from diabetes, which severely weakened him, leaving him a shadow of the "Wild Bull" he was once called. He passed away from heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on September 14, 2002, at the age of 79. His wake was held three days later, on September 17, followed by a funeral and farewell ceremony on September 18 at his residence in Roppongi, attended only by close relatives. His burial site is located at Ikegami Honmon-ji in Ota Ward, Tokyo.
8.2. Legacy and Historical Evaluation
Hisayuki Machii's legacy is a blend of criminal notoriety, business acumen, and ethnic leadership. As the founder of the Tosei-kai, he established one of Japan's most formidable yakuza organizations, which, even after its formal dissolution, continued to operate under the guise of the Toa-kai, largely composed of ethnic Koreans. His strategic alliances with figures like Yoshio Kodama and Kazuo Taoka underscore his ability to navigate and influence the highest echelons of both the underworld and the political establishment. Machii's efforts undeniably paved the way for greater involvement of Koreans in the Japanese underworld, a complex aspect of his legacy that provided opportunities for some within the Zainichi Korean community while perpetuating their association with organized crime.
His business ventures, such as the TSK/CCC Terminal Building and the Pugwan Ferry, demonstrated his ambition to transition into legitimate society, yet these endeavors were often tainted by allegations of corruption and ultimately led to bankruptcy. His alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung remains a dark stain on his reputation, highlighting his willingness to engage in actions with severe human rights implications for political gain. Despite these controversies, Machii received the National Order, Dongbaek Medal (국민훈장 동백장Gungmin Hun장을 Dongbaek JangKorean) from Korea in 1968, indicating some level of recognition or utility to the Korean government. His life serves as a critical case study of the intricate and often morally ambiguous roles played by powerful individuals in shaping post-war Japanese society, particularly from the perspective of a Zainichi Korean navigating deep-seated prejudices and opportunities within the shadows.