Forensic Psychology We look at one of the founders of a yakuza crime syndicate
Feb 18, 2026
03:04
In this episode, inspired by the acclaimed TV series Tokyo Vice, our Forensic Psychology podcast examines the complex psyche of Tadamasa Goto, the ruthless founder of the Goto-gumi and a once-dominant figure in Japan’s largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, who died at age 83 on February 8.
We explore the psychological profile of a criminal mastermind who rose from poverty to lead over 1,000 members while operating approximately 150 front companies, seamlessly blending extreme violence with sophisticated white-collar enterprises. Central to his story is the 2001 scandal involving an FBI-facilitated liver transplant at UCLA—exposed by investigative journalist Jake Adelstein—that allowed him to bypass a critical waiting list.
We explore the psychological profile of a criminal mastermind who rose from poverty to lead over 1,000 members while operating approximately 150 front companies, seamlessly blending extreme violence with sophisticated white-collar enterprises. Central to his story is the 2001 scandal involving an FBI-facilitated liver transplant at UCLA—exposed by investigative journalist Jake Adelstein—that allowed him to bypass a critical waiting list.