When the Kobe-based Yamaguchi-gumi broke up in August last year, many expected a turf war to erupt as the country's largest crime syndicate battled for territorial control against a newly formed group called the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi that was founded by expelled gangsters in the aftermath of the split.
Until last month, police have struggled to keep a lid on the tensions that exist between the groups. Skirmishes between rival gang members have escalated since August, with crimes across the nation ranging from violent acts and shootings to vehicular rammings of offices.
Given the escalating violence, it's a little surprising that it took police until April 15 to designate the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi as a crime syndicate.
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