The Biggest Boss of the Tokaido Region

Shimizu Jirocho

(Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture) 

【Oyabun（親分）】 is a honorific title for a man who is the head of the criminal group as a father of the group. Nowadays ordinary people sometime use this old-fashioned title to an elderly boss admiring as a father figure. 

 In the 19 century, the late samurai era, the man was called “The biggest boss (Oyabun) of the Tokaido Region”. Tokaido is a main road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto through the Pacific side of Japan. At the mid point of the Tokaido, present Shimizu City Shizuoka Prefecture, he was born in 1829 when the townsman culture flourished.

His name is "Shimizu Jirocho”. He is a folk hero who lived as a “Ninkyo” way. Ninkyo is a way of man’s life, referring to syndicate members, that respects social obligation from the human feeling point of view with a self-sacrificing devotion. He engaged in the underworld activities like gambling, fighting and even murder. His syndicate grew into a network of 500 members including famous 28 henchmen throughout the Tokaido Region. He even caused one of the biggest gang battles in Japanese history from dispute over his territory. 

Such violent life was ended in the tides of history that changed Japan from an isolated feudal society to a modern nation states. His leadership won the favor from the new government despite his criminal activities in the past. He broke off antisocial activities and started to engage public works and human development. One of his big contribution was the modernization of Shimizu Port. The port is considered as the three most beautiful scenic port in Japan as you can see the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji over the port. 

His life story was written by his son-in-law in non-fiction novel that gained acceptance among masses. It finally became popular movie and TV drama series. From 1949, around 90 movies were filmed in 43 years. 

To feel his story more, you can visit the Jirocho birthplace,Nationally registered tangible cultural property, and the Shimizu Jirocho’s Sailor’s Lodge Museum in Shimizu City. Household items and black and white photos bring back you to the time.