Kazuo Nakanishi

Kazuo Nakanishi (中西 一男, Nakanishi Kazuo, October 25, 1922 – September 1, 2003) was briefly the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza syndicate in the chaotic years of the Yama–Ichi War. He was also the founder and 1st kumicho of the Nakanishi-gumi.

Nakanishi accepted the temporary leadership position after the assassination of Masahisa Takenaka,^[1] but was never considered an official kumicho (supreme Godfather) of the Kobe-based gang, despite heading it from 1985 to 1989.^{[citation needed]} During these years, Yoshinori Watanabe was his underboss.^[1]

Following the Yama–Ichi War, Nakanishi ran for the role of fifth kumicho, but lost to Watanabe.^[1]

After Watanabe's accession, Nakanishi continued to work for the gang as a senior advisor and leader of 15 sub-gangs in Osaka. He died in September 2003.