Moritomo-Gumi

History

Formed from alliances of common thugs several hundreds of years ago, eventually these thugs became more complex, sophisticated, and ambitious. A hierarchy began to form, with the Moritomo clan emerging on the top. Over the centuries, the group created rituals, expanded, and eventually became a mainstay organ of the nation as a whole. Their fingers were in so many different activities and institutions that uprooting them was nigh impossible. The group also made a deal with their rivals the Matsuzaki to not step on each others toes, and to work together to achieve more profit rather than expend resources fighting each other. In their modern form, the Moritomo-gumi has become engaged in nearly every white collar crime activity possible. However this status has grown stale and rigid, and is prone to attack from fresh new syndicates that are more flexible and adaptable like Crane's Crown

Structure

Their ranks are roughly 100,000 strong. The core members of the Moritomo-gumi are highly trained with more power and responsibility than members of most other crime groups. The Moritomo-gumi headquarters is in Sapporo but they operate throughout all of northern Japan.
The upper echelons of the group are members of the Moritomo clan, which is composed of multiple families. Any members who rise high enough in the ranks must renounce their previous family ties and titles and become members of the clan. These high level ranks resemble more of a corporation than a mafia. Accountants, lawyers, and financial experts hold great sway in the macro activities of the group, rather than merely the physically strong. Those born into the family are raised to inherit the duties and tasks of the upper levels of the organization. This upper level consist of the boss, his inner circle of family, personal guard, lawyers, accountants, and first head lieutenants who assist in the running of the group and management of mid tier leaders. The current head of the group is Genichi Moritomo, and the next in line is his first lieutenant and son Seitaro Moritomo. The 4 strongest members of the group are called The Four Elder Children.
Middle level members who operate the institutions, and lead the men on the ground, and get their hands dirty too sometimes. They can come from any walk of life, though are almost always former foot soldiers from lower rungs, though are made to go through initiations. These people tend to be disaffected members of society, looking for an alternate route to get ahead rather than integrate into society, which is often a closed door for them. There are two mid level ranks: Older brother and younger brother. An older brother commands a group of younger brothers who in turn command uninitiated/foot soldiers.
Most members of the group are uninitiated, and are often common criminals who operate the lowest levels of the organization, but have no insight on to how or to what extent it actually runs. These members are not given a lot of trust power, or responsibility, and are seen as expendable if they screw up. That being said, getting results and showing loyalty can open the door to initiation.

Culture

Initiation

When joining, the new member takes the role of "child" and sits opposite to his superior or "father". Sake is served to both, with the child receiving the smaller portion. Each takes a drink and swaps cups and each take another drink. This represents both a symbolic family bond, as well as a sacred religious bond as well, as sake is seen as a bridge between the physical world and the kami. In fact this initiation is often performed at the local shrine.

Symbology

Pine Bonsai Crest - The crest of the Moritomo clan is a black pine bonsai tree in a circular frame. It represents the forest aspect of the clan name.
Left arm Sleeve tattoos - Moritomo-gumi tattoos are intentionally more subtle and take up less real estate than other groups. This is due to the groups need to blend in more. These sleeve tattoos start far enough up the arm that no one will be able to notice so long as the member is wearing sleeves. The subject matter for the tattoos will typically be nature and animals determined by the clan for each member on initiation based on arcane and cryptic in family secret symbology.

Punishment

Unlike Matsuzaki, the Moritomo-gumi prefers financial and status punishments over physical ones. Because Moritomo-gumi members often need to be able to integrate into society more seamlessly, things like missing fingers call undue attention.

Formality

Members are expected to dress formally and modestly in traditional style. They are also expected to use high levels of politeness and etiquette, especially when speaking to higher ups in the chain. Cleanliness and orderliness is an expectation of both the members, and the areas of operation. Even dealing with clients and victims is done with politeness and in a way that is indirect.

Community Involvement

Members of the Moritomo-gumi are known to operate beloved local businesses which often act as money laundering fronts. They are also known to be charitable whether for sake of public image or earnest belief in the community is some way. They are also close to their local shrines and will often pay homage and give gifts to them. This strengthens their bond to both the local people and kami.

Activities

The Moritomo-gumi are a primarily white collar crime group. While they are engaged in many on the ground crime activities, their bread and butter is sophisticated and often non-violent.

• Bank Fraud - Acting as an unauthorized bank and scamming clients
• Bid Rigging - Collusion between bidders to non-compete and obtain bid upon items at reduced cost
• Blackmail and Sokaiya - Using threat of humiliation, violence, and other means to get an institution to agree to unfavorable terms
• Bookmaking - To run an illegal betting market on games, gambling, sports, and so on
• Drug Trafficking - Proliferation of narcotics
• Election Rigging - Using bribes, intimidation, and blackmail to get sympathetic politicians elected, or to control them
• Loansharking - Illegal predatory loan practices, like extremely high interest rates
• Match Fixing - Predetermining the winner of a sporting event in order to capitalize on the sure outcome
• Money Laundering - Moving illegally obtained money through legitimate businesses to hide its dubious origin
• Racketeering - The act of obtaining, operating, or using a business illegally
• Securities Fraud - Includes stock market manipulation, pyramid schemes, and other illegal manipulations of assets
• Illegal Gambling - Running illegal underground gambling operations
• Infiltration - Having group members join and rise through the ranks of government, business, rival groups to act as spies and saboteurs
• Bribery - Giving money to influence members of government and business
• Counterfeiting - Printing fake money

Morphine

A class of opioid that has been processed and is typically used as a painkiller for soldiers with injuries. The substance is however highly addictive and sought after. The Moritomo-gumi will buy military supplies of morphine that are stolen by either infiltrators or opportunists within the military, and resell it at a premium.