
Shozo Hirono was a Japanese yakuza gangster and an underboss of the Yamamori-gumi family of Hiroshima Prefecture during the 1940s and 1950s. Inducted into the yakuza in gratitude for saving the life of Doi-gumi yakuza Hiroshi Wakasugi while in prison, Hirono became one of Yoshio Yamamori's most trusted lieutenants, but his boss betrayed him after Hirono was sent on a one-way mission to assassinate Doi-gumi boss Kiyoshi Doi during a mob war in 1949. Hirono was sent to prison from 1949 to 1954, when his sentence was commuted and he was released on parole, and he dissociated himself from his former boss Yamamori and from his family after he found that his sworn brothers had turned on each other and killed each other amid bloody interfamilial fighting.
Biography[]
Early life[]

Hirono convincing Tetsuya Sakai to help him find the swordsman
Shozo Hirono was born in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, and he served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. During this time, he befriended his comrades Tetsuya Sakai, Seiichi Kanbara, Uichi Shinkai, Masakichi Makihara, and Shuji Yano, and, in 1946, another former colleague, Shinichi Yamagata, ordered Hirono to contact his friends in the Yamamori-gumi to help track down and kill a sword-wielding yakuza who had severely wounded one of their comrades. Hirono made contact with Sakai, who brought a few hitmen with him to track down the killer and bring him to justice.

Hirono after shooting the swordsman
Hirono found that Kanbara and Sugiya had been beaten up during the disturbance, and Kanbara reported that the man had fought well and beaten them. Hirono volunteered to take on the roaming yakuza to protect his friends, and Kanbara told Hirono that the man was making trouble at a nearby bar. The man noticed Hirono approaching and ran out of the bar with a sword, flailing around and causing the crowd to step back in terror. However, Hirono shot the man once in the chest, killing him.
Imprisonment[]

Shozo Hirono and Hiroshi Wakasugi in prison
Hirono was promptly arrested for the shooting and sentenced to 12 years in prison, and he met Doi-gumi yakuza Hiroshi Wakasugi after they became cellmates following Hirono's participation in a brawl with prison guards initiated by Wakasugi in protest of the guards eating the prisoners' rice rations. Wakasugi told Hirono that ¥50,000 would make up for his prison sentence due to prisons becoming overcrowded and wardens becoming more corrupt, and, while Hirono said that he didn't have that kind of money, Wakasugi changed the topic and announced that he was going to perform hara-kiri. Hirono asked Wakasugi why he was preparing to stab himself in the stomach, and Wakasugi explained that, as the prison guards couldn't patch up his wounds, he would have to be released on bail; he then told Hirono that, when the time was right, he should start hollering "suicide". He then told Hirono that, if he botched his hara-kiri and he looked like he was in too much pain, he wanted Hirono to strangle him to death.

Hirono and Wakasugi making a blood oath
Wakasugi proposed that the two men become sworn brothers, and he revealed that he was a captain from the Doi-gumi. Hirono revealed that he knew that, but he wasn't involved in Wakasugi's "yakuza racket". Wakasugi responded with an invitation, saying, "Nobody's born a yakuza. Why don't you follow me?" Hirono said that he was little for introductions, but introduced himself. Wakasugi said that, as they could not toast with sake, they would have to slit their arms and suck blood instead. After they did so, Wakasugi promised to find someone who could pay Hirono's bail as well. Wakasugi proceeded to stab himself, and, after Wakasugi smeared blood on Hirono's face as a sign to call the guards, Hirono alerted the guards to a suicide. Wakasugi was taken to the hospital and bailed out, and he had Hirono bailed out as well, fulfilling his promise.
Joining the Yamamori-gumi[]

Hirono being released
Hirono was greeted by his army friends as he left the prison a free man, and they introduced him to the Yamamori-gumi boss Yoshio Yamamori, whom they revealed had paid for his bail. Hirono thanked Yamamori and promised to work hard to repay him, but Yamamori told Hirono to forget about it, and he introduced Hirono to Wakasugi's boss Kiyoshi Doi, who thanked Hirono for keeping Wakasugi safe in prison. Doi then gave Hirono two bottles of sake as a token of his appreciation, and Hirono's friends cheered him on. Shortly after, Hirono, Sakai, Kanbara, Shinkai, Makihara, and Yano were inducted into the Yamamori-gumi, with Doi serving as a witness, and the underworld elder Kenichi Okubo of the Okubo-gumi acting as a go-between.

Hirono presenting his finger to Okubo
Over the next three years, Hirono and his friends became accustomed to the yakuza life, becoming fervent gamblers. In 1949, while at a gambling den with his friends, Hirono watched the arrogant gambler Toru Ueda pick a fight with his friends, causing him to throw punches at Ueda. He and his friends were then brought before Yamamori, who warned Hirono that Ueda happened to be a distant relative to Okubo, Hirono's go-between, and said that he could not find a peacemaker to deal with the situation. Yoshio's wife Rika Yamamori suggested that Hirono apologize to Okubo with money, but Hirono ultimately offered to cut off his little finger as recompense. Hirono did so with great pain, but, when he was brought to Okubo to present his finger, Okubo laughed before Yamamori and a wounded Hirono, saying that Hirono did not have to go that far, as he had engaged in a quarrel between hot-blooded youth, and Ueda was the one who had started the fight. Okubo then gave Yamamori a large sum of money to commit the finger to the earth in a lavish ceremony.
Feud with the Doi-gumi[]

Hirono warning Yamamori about the Doi-gumi
Shortly after, Okubo introduced Yamamori to the municipal assemblyman Shigeto Nakahara, who decided that he wanted to turn over the ¥50 billion worth of hoarded Imperial Japanese Navy goods in Hiroshima to the local government to help finance the city's reconstruction. However, his rival Shoichi Kanamaru was against the plan, hoping to appropriate the money for Ikejima's campaign fund. Nakahara asked Yamamori to help him rig a municipal assembly vote against Kanamaru, and Yamamori then relayed this to Hirono, saying that Ueda was also on board with the plan. Hirono warned Yamamori that the Kanamaru faction was supported by Doi from Kure, and that Doi never liked Ueda; the then theorized that they might have to take on Doi if they took on Kanamaru. Sakai concurred with Hirono, expressing his belief that Okubo was pulling his strings on the whole scheme. Yamamori decided that, if the Kanamaru faction won, Doi would be out of control, even though Sakai said that they were no match for Doi if all they had was Ueda. Yamamori exasperatedly asked Sakai if he wanted him to take on Okubo, and Sakai said that Yamamori could not show his weakness to Okubo. A stressed Yamamori said that Nakahara had promised him an indefinite loan of operating funds from the city's bank, and he then begged Hirono and Sakai to support him. Hirono was moved by his boss' prostration and convinced Sakai to help the boss as well.

Hirono and Yamamori meeting with Wakasugi
Sakai ultimately succeeded in kidnapping Kanamaru's ally, which led to Nakahara's faction winning the vote. However, Doi's men responded by kidnapping and severely beating Seiichi Kanbara, who was forced to confess that Yamamori had been responsible for the rigged vote. Yamamori and Hirono solicited Wakasugi's help, and, while Wakasugi said that his boss wouldn't listen to him, Wakasugi decided to approach the Kaito-gumi to assist in mediating the feud. Just then, Kanbara knocked on the door and requested to use Yamamori's phone, and Yamamori reluctantly had the "double-crosser" let in. However, Doi and a few of his men followed Kanbara into the building, and he attacked Wakasugi after accusing him of siding with Yamamori. Wakasugi insisted, "This is between assemblymen. We're no better than dogs!" However, Doi insisted on killing Yamamori with a pistol, leading to a scuffle in which Wakasugi restrained his boss as he fired pot-shots, acting out of loyalty to his sworn brother Hirono.

Wakasugi chasing Doi out of the bar
Ultimately, Wakasugi pulled a gun on his boss and warned him that he could not kill Hirono while he was alive, and Doi then angrily stormed out with his men. Wakasugi prevented Hirono from giving chase, and a tearful Yamamori told Hirono that he had finally seen what he was made of, and said that he would have to depend on Hirono for more support. After the incident, Wakasugi became a guest member of the Yamamori-gumi, but neither the Yamamori-gumi nor the Doi-gumi were able to bury the hatchet. Hirono was sent into hiding with the Kaito-gumi in Hiroshima, where he would be safe from Doi's retaliation.

Shozo Hirono at the Kaito-gumi headquarters
Six months later, Wakasugi came to visit Hirono at the Kaito-gumi headquarters, and Wakasugi told Hirono that Doi was making plans to take over Hiroshima, and would soon meet with the Kaito-gumi. Wakasugi also told Hirono that Doi had made Kanbara his henchman, and said that the Doi-gumi was breaking into the Yamamori-gumi's turf. Wakasugi said that it was time to set things straight, and advised Hirono to leave the Kaito-gumi's care. Hirono grew worried that Wakasugi was planning to kill Doi, but Wakasugi said that he was the man who had to. Hirono said that Doi was still Wakasugi's boss, and yakuza tradition forbade a yakuza member from killing their boss. Hirono suggested that they talk it over with Yamamori and the others first, and they went to meet with their boss.

The Yamamori family gathering to discuss Doi's plans
Yamamori said that he had kept the news from Hirono at first because he feared that Doi might catch wind that his plans were now known to the Yamamori-gumi, and Yamamori lamented that Doi continued to bother his business. Hirono then confronted Yamamori as to why he only told Wakasugi about the situation, and Yamamori said that he did not want to start a fight that would impact his business. Hirono said that they were well beyond worrying about their business, and he suggested killing off the Doi-gumi. Wakasugi said that Hirono had a point, but they couldn't do the hit in Hiroshima. Yamamori grew annoyed when Makihara began to weep and complain that his wife was with child, preventing him from joining the others in taking action, and Yamamori told Makihara to go home and take care of his family, while he irately and sarcastically suggested that he himself should fight Doi.

Yamamori thanking Hirono
Yamamori's men calmed him down, and it was then that Hirono volunteered to kill Doi in Hiroshima. Hirono's friends warned him that he might get the death penalty if he was to murder another man, but Rika encouraged him, as their only other hitman was the absent Sakai, and Hirono decided to risk death and take out Doi to prevent a full-blown inter-familial war. Yamamori again melodramatically thanked Hirono and promised to give him all of his property should Hirono be released after 20 years in prison, and a now-tearful Rika added that she and Yoshio often thought of Hirono as a son, and promised to look after his affairs. Yamamori then gave Hirono a large wad of cash and told him to enjoy himself for the present, and Hirono went on to spend some of it on a prostitute, with whom he had rough intercourse, saying that he had no more time.
Assassination of Kiyoshi Doi[]

Doi being carried off
On 16 October 1949, Hirono returned to the Kaito-gumi headquarters, where he watched as Doi entered the building to speak with the family's patriarch. After unwrapping his gun from a newspaper and taking a smoke in the rainy courtyard, he ran up to Doi as Doi returned to his car from the meeting, and he shot him several times. He then pursued a wounded Doi onto the street and emptied the rest of his magazine into him before holding the Kaito-gumi guards at bay with his empty pistol and then running off.

Hirono at the safehouse in Hiroshima
Hirono then headed for a safehouse the local madam had arranged for him, and he called Wakasugi, who said that Doi was still breathing, and in the hospital. He then reported that the police were everywhere, and that Doi's men were now after Yamamori. He then whispered to Hirono that Doi's men did not know where Hirono was, and he told Hirono to hang in there until he got there.
Betrayal[]

Kanbara visiting Hirono
That night, however, Kanbara visited Hirono at his safehouse and told him that Yamamori had a plan to sneak Hirono out of Hiroshima. Kanbara said that Yamamori had the Kaitos and the police all over him, but Hirono initially refused to trust his former friend. However, as Kanbara left, Hirono told him to wait for him, ultimately deciding that Kanbara was his best shot at escaping Hiroshima.

Hirono attempting to flee the police
However, Kanbara stopped the car in a tunnel, where the car was blocked off by police on both sides. Hirono attempted to flee, but was arrested and sent back to prison; he realized that he had been abandoned by everyone, including his former Yamamori-gumi family. He was later visited in prison by Wakasugi, who told Hirono that Sakai was back in the family, insinuating that this meant that he would soon be forced to return to the Doi-gumi. Hirono asked for Wakasugi to stay with the Yamamori family, but Wakasugi said that he was having trouble figuring out Yamamori, asking why he sent Kanbara to Hirono, and questioning Yamamori's intentions. He was then told that his time was up, and he told Hirono to stay well. On 17 December 1949, Wakasugi would murder Kanbara in revenge for his betrayal, only to be killed by police drawn to his home by a tip provided by Yamamori that same night.
A New World[]

Hirono leaving prison in 1954
By 1950, the Korean War had broken out and the Yamamori-gumi got a contract loading ammunition for the United States military, but they also began to deal methamphetamine (philopon) on the streets. At the same time, friction was building within the Yamamori-gumi as Tetsuya Sakai and Toru Ueda's faction (which opposed methamphetamine trafficking and Yamamori's ridiculously high, 70% cut of their income) and Uichi Shinkai and Shuji Yano's faction (which supported Shinaki's meth operation and steadfastly supported Yamamori's authority) inched closer to war, with Shinkai's subordinate Toshio Arita and the corrupt politician Shoichi Kanamaru both urging Shinkai to take out Sakai and rebuild the Doi-gumi. In October–December 1954, an intrafamilial war broke out between Shinkai and Sakai's rival factions, resulting in the deaths of Yamagata, Ueda, and Shinkai, as well as the deaths or arrests of several more yakuza, including Arita, sentenced to life in prison. Shortly after Shinkai's murder in November 1954, Hirono was granted a commutation and released from Gifu Prison on parole.

Hirono eating with Yamamori and Yano
Hirono was picked up by Makihara and Yano, who took him to a restaurant to meet with Yamamori and his wife. There, Yamamori explained to Hirono that, since Hirono had been imprisoned, both Ueda and Shinkai were dead, leaving Sakai without rivals. They also revealed that Sakai had even organized his own company, and Yamamori said that Sakai was now ignoring him. Yamamori melodramatically began to cry again, and Rika told Hirono that, at the time, Yano was the only one who was being kind to them, and said that, if Hirono would side with Yamamori, the others would soon follow. Rika also told Hirono that Sakai didn't like the way they were always talking about Hirono, and that Sakai was running his mouth off about killing Hirono. Yamamori then asked Hirono to do him a favor and kill Sakai for him, but Hirono said that he was fresh out of prison and had no idea what was going on. Yamamori promised Hirono a monthly fee if he would help him, but he stuck him with the bill for their meal, leaving Hirono alone with Makihara. Makihara was dismayed to see that Yamamori had given Hirono just ¥12,000, and he revealed that Yamamori had since gone legitimate by chairing a boat race company, and said that he had held a lavish geisha party in Nagoya, despite his claims of poverty.
Break with Sakai[]

Hirono reuniting with Sakai
Hirono then went to Yamagata's house, where he received permission from his widow to pray for Yamagata's soul at her cupboard shrine for her husband. Hirono was interrupted when Sakai arrived with a wrapped present, and the two men had an impromptu conversation as Yamagata's wife left the room to give them privacy. Hirono lamented that only Yamamori, and no one else, had come to greet him when he was released from prison, and he then asked what there was to fight over in their tiny town. Sakai grew defensive and shouted that he was not fighting with Yamamori, but he admitted that he was "thoroughly disgusted with him." Sakai then added that, if Yamamori had been a man of his word, neither Shinkai nor Yamagata nor Ueda would have had to die. He then told Hirono that he planned to establish a company soon, a harbor transport business, with Makihara and others being invited to join so that they could go out on their own and separate from Yamamori. Sakai also told an unamused Hirono that they planned to join forces with the Kaito-gumi of Hiroshima as well, and he then invited Hirono to join them.

Hirono calming Sakai
Hirono ruefully told Sakai that Yamamori had ordered him to kill Sakai, and Sakai panicked and screamed when Hirono reached into his coat pocket. However, Hirono revealed that he was pulling out a box of cigarettes, and asked Sakai to sit down. Sakai calmed himself and asked Hirono if he was really going to kill him, and Hirono explained that the seven army friends did not join Yamamori's organization so that they could kill each other off, and he then said that the survivors should join forces to help rebuild the Yamamori-gumi. He then told Sakai that he was planning on taking a trip, and asked Sakai to talk it over with the boss. That night, however, Sakai barged into Yamamori's home and attempted to assassinate him with a katana, confronting him about sending Hirono to kill him. Yamamori offered to do whatever Sakai wanted, so Sakai forced Yamamori to step down as boss, and he went on to found his own company and assassinate Yano when he tried to sabotage his negotiations with the Kaito-gumi.

Hirono reuniting with Makihara
Hirono remained neutral as Sakai seized control of the Yamamori-gumi; by 1956, he was spending time gambling in Matsuyama, Shikoku. On 18 February 1956, he was called by Makihara, who told Hirono of Yano's murder at Sakai's hands, and told him that they needed to discuss an urgent matter. Hirono returned to Hiroshima, where Makihara took him to Yamamori's new office; Hirono realized that Yamamori was chairman of the company. Hirono said that he thought that Makihara was on Sakai's side, but Makihara revealed that Yamamori knew everything he did. Yamamori told Hirono that he thought he could depend on him, and asked him if he had spilled all of his plans to Sakai. Yamamori said that Sakai had blackmailed him into resigning, and that Sakai had made it public on the occasion of his company's celebration. Yamamori accused Hirono of being responsible for Yano's death (as Yano had been killed while trying to stop Sakai's usurpation), and he said that he almost ordered Hirono's death, had it not been for Makihara's intervention.

Sakai disavowing his allegiance to Yamamori
Yamamori insulted Hirono and returned to his desk, and Makihara exhorted Hirono to help them, if he felt bad for Yano at all. Makihara said that Sakai was going to break the family with Kaito's help, and that he was going to start the Sakai-gumi. He then asked Hirono if he was with Sakai, and Hirono walked up to his boss, Yamamori, and said that, while Yamamori said that Sakai was a bad man, Yamamori was just as bad. He metaphorically compared their situation to "the pot calling the kettle black", angering Yamamori. He said that he was done with his boss, and that he wouldn't fall for his tricks anymore. Hirono announced that he was turning in his pledge to Yamamori, and asked Yamamori to stop thinking of him as his man. Hirono then announced that he would settle his grudge with Sakai on his own. Makihara then drew on a map and told Hirono that Sakai stayed at Room 403 in a nearby hotel, and Hirono then realized from Makihara and Yamamori's intelligence network that they must have been the ones to squeal to the police about Wakasugi's hiding place. He asked Yamamori if he was responsible, but Yamamori said that Wakasugi's death was a thing of the past, and asked, "Who knows?"

Hirono being held at gunpoint
Hirono then stormed out of the office and drove to the hotel where Sakai was staying, where he stormed into Sakai's room. He was tackled by Sakai's guards and held at gunpoint on the bed, his gun having been wrested away from him. Sakai, who was sitting at a chair by the bed, asked if Hirono had come to kill him. Hirono admitted that he had, but said that he had broken with Yamamori, and that he wished to kill Sakai on his own. Sakai asked why, and Hirono said that Sakai knew why; he then drew his ceremonial sake glass from his coat pocket, dropped it on the ground, and stomped on it, saying that they were no longer sworn brothers. Hirono then invited Sakai's men to execute him as he laid down on the bed, saying that, if Sakai let him live, he would keep aiming for Sakai. Sakai told Hirono that he was too idealistic, saying that the code of honor meant nothing to Yamamori, and he invited Hirono to help him once he got wise. He even said that he wouldn't mind if the family was the Sakai family or the Hirono family, as long as they worked together to crush Yamamori. Hirono asked if that would bring Shinkai and Yano back, and Sakai again debated killing Hirono.

Hirono at Sakai's funeral
Ultimately, Sakai decided to set Hirono free, driving him away from the hotel, and lamenting their shattered friendship. Hirono warned Sakai that the hunter was always stronger than the prey, and warned Sakai to watch his back. Sakai then decided to exit the vehicle at a random stop on the sidewalk, and he gave Hirono his gun back and swore to kill him as well. As Hirono drove off with Sakai's guards, he watched as Makihara's hitmen pursued Sakai into a store and shot him dead. Hirono went on to attend Sakai's funeral, where he approached Sakai's altar and asked the late Sakai if he was happy with the show being put on for him. Hirono deduced that Sakai was unhappy with it, and Hirono said that he was as well. Hirono proceeded to draw a pistol and disrespectfully shoot up the altar, shocking and angering all those in attendance.

Hirono leaving Sakai's funeral
An infuriated Yamamori asked Hirono if he knew what he was doing, and Hirono warned Yamamori that he still had some bullets left. He then walked out of the funeral untouched, as the guests were cautious about angering the gunman. Hirono stormed out of the building, apparently free of his yakuza ties, and now without any oaths or obligations to fulfill.