Gokudo

Gokudo (Yashiman: 極道, "the extreme path") are members of transnational organised crime syndicates originating and primarily based in Yamatai. The Yamataian government, police and media call these groups bōryokudan (暴力団, "violent groups"), while the Gokudo are also known to call themselves ninkyō dantai (任侠団体/仁侠団体, "chivalrous organizations"). The Gokudo are well-known for their strict codes of conduct, hierarchies, and several unconventional ritual practices such as yubitsume. Members are often described as males with heavily tattooed bodies and slicked hair, though heavy tattooing has fallen out of trend due to the threat of identification by law enforcement.

Infamous as some of the wealthiest and sophisticated criminal organisations in the world, at their height the gokudo maintained a large presence in Yamataian media. At their peak during the Golden Age of Gangsters, police estimated that the gokudo had a membership of over 584,700. However, following years of infighting and government suppression, membership has dwindled. Latest figures by the Public Safety Enforcement Agency, Yamatai's national-level anti-gang task force, place the present membership at around 78,100. Despite the dwindling numbers, the gokudo continue to engage in an array of criminal activities.

Operating both as illegal gangs and legal organisations, there is no strict laws against gokudo membership or activities, though much legislation to combat criminal activities and impeding gang revenue has been passed. In addition, the Yamataian government continually attempts to suppress and eliminate the gokudo throughout its territories.

History
The origin of Gokudo organisations lie in illicit underground gambling and trading organisations that evolved into vast crime syndicates over centuries.

Following the Endwar, the Gokudo leadership held a major conference to discuss the threat of organised crime involving ex-military forces that had been demobilised and were muscling in on gokudo territories and enterprises, such as the black market. This conference also saw the creation of the modern Gokudo Code.

In 1998, a major gang war occurred following the release of Ikebana Jun from prison. The leader of a gang under the Tojo-kai, he had become blood brothers with the Murase-gumi's chief lieutenant, Okamoto Akira, during their time in prison. The revelation of this relationship between the two triggered a major confrontation between the gangs, resulting in the destruction of the Murase-gumi and a vicious power struggle within the Tojo-kai, ultimately resulting in Kato Tomokazu becoming the new patriarch of the Tojo-kai, and the imprisonment of Otomo Tōru.

Under Kato's leadership, the Tojo-kai diversified into a variety of legal businesses and even began dealing with corrupt government officials. In 2003, the murder of an anti-corruption officer resulted in a chain of events leading to the Mizuno Land Scandal. At the same time, a massive gang war broke out between the Tojo-kai and the Okayama-based Hanabishi-kai, which allied with the recently-released Otomo Tōru and mainland Chowado elements. By mid 2004, the Hanabishi-kai had taken control of the Tojo-kai, consolidating power in Hasukuni.

In 2012, the Hanabishi-kai Civil War occurred, splintering the group and enabling the Inugane-gumi to enter Niihama.

Rivalries
The Gokudo maintain major rivalries with the Chisei-based Chowado organisations, as well as the Red Gangs.