Kiyoshi Takayama
Takayama Kiyoshi | |
|---|---|
髙山 清司 | |
| Born | September 5, 1947 Tsushima, Aichi, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupation | Yakuza |
| Years active | 1967-Present |
| Known for | The number-two position (Wakagashira) of Yamaguchi-gumi (2005-2025) |
| Allegiance | Yamaguchi-gumi |
| Criminal charge | Blackmail |
| Penalty | 6 years' imprisonment (2014) |
Kiyoshi Takayama (髙山 清司, Takayama Kiyoshi; born September 5, 1947 in Tsushima, Aichi) is a yakuza best known as the second-in-command (wakagashira) of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest known yakuza syndicate in Japan, and the president of its ruling affiliate, Kodo-kai, based in Nagoya. He stepped down as wakagashira in 2025 and assumed the position of sōdanyaku (advisor).
Takayama has been considered the key person in the entire history of the Kodo-kai and behind the sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, being kept under close surveillance by the National Police Agency. The National Police Agency once distributed a report on its operations against the Yamaguchi-gumi to every police department across the country, which had a special section devoted to him and even made reference to his personality.
In 2012, the Obama administration of the United States imposed sanctions on him as the second-in-command of the Yamaguchi-gumi. The sanctions also targeted Kenichi Shinoda as the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi, along with several individuals linked to three other transnational organized crime groups, the Brothers' Circle of Russia, the Camorra of Italy, and the Los Zetas of Mexico.