Man shot dead in western Japan in possible gang feud

Japan Today -- Nov 28

A senior member of Japan's largest organized crime syndicate was shot dead Wednesday in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture by a man armed with a submachine gun and a handgun amid a possible gang feud, police said.

Keiichi Furukawa, 59, a high-ranking yakuza of Yamaguchi-gumi, was pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot on a street after 5 p.m.

The suspected assailant fled by minivehicle, but police arrested him in Kyoto city about an hour after the shooting for possessing firearms.

Hisanori Asahina, 52, allegedly possessed a submachine gun and a handgun along with five live bullets when he was arrested. When police officers tried to question him after pulling over his vehicle, Asahina reportedly pointed a handgun at officers.

According to the police, Furukawa and Asahina, an associate of Yamaguchi-gumi, knew each other. The police believe the shooting is linked to ongoing strife between Yamaguchi-gumi and a splinter group, and are investigating it as a murder case.

Furukawa was found lying on his back on the street, bleeding from his abdomen and face. About 10 cartridges were found at the crime scene.

Nov 28 (ANNnewsCH) - 27日夕方、兵庫県尼崎市で神戸山口組の幹部が銃で撃たれて死亡し、山口組関係者とみられる男が京都市内で逮捕されました。  午後5時すぎ、尼崎市で通行人から「入れ墨の入った男性が腕などを撃たれた」と通報がありました。警察によりますと、撃たれたのは神戸山口組の古川恵一幹部(59)で、病院に搬送されましたが腹などを撃たれていて死亡しました。約1時間後に警察は、現場から車で逃走したとみられる朝比奈久徳容疑者(52)を京都市内で逮捕し、拳銃と自動小銃を押収しました。朝比奈容疑者は山口組の関係者とみられていて、警察は山口組と神戸山口組の抗争の可能性があるとみて調べています。