The Yamaoroshi-gumi, known as the "Mountain-Ripper Crew," is a small, brutal yakuza family operating from the hidden underground mahjong den “Kuroi-Yume” beneath a shuttered sake shop. Once twenty strong, they ruled Yomiyama’s shadows with meth pipelines from Nagoya, protection rackets on every shop, and high-stakes games that left losers missing fingers—or worse. Led by Kurogane “Tetsu” Daigo since a bloody takeover in 1986, the gang prided itself on iron loyalty and zero tolerance for weakness. In the loop, only eight remain human; the rest have turned, whispering to the mountain in voices not their own. The den still runs, tiles clicking under red lanterns, but the air tastes of fear and pine charcoal now.
Formed in the late 1970s from disgruntled mine workers and street toughs after the magnesium mine closure gutted jobs. "Yamaoroshi"—mountain-ripper—came from their reputation for “tearing down” anyone who crossed them, like stripping a ridge bare. By 1982 they controlled the village underbelly: drugs, gambling, enforcement. Daigo’s 1986 takeover was swift—six rivals gone in one month of quiet knives. The “Kuroi-Yume” den opened as their throne room, raking cash while the town pretended not to notice.
The Yamaoroshi draws broken men who crave belonging more than fear.
Ex-miners with scarred hands and empty pockets.
Runaways from Takayama or Nagoya seeking family in blood oaths.
Young toughs who grew up watching fathers drink themselves dead after the mine closed.
Veterans or dropouts who believe strength is the only currency left. They join for protection, purpose, and the promise that loyalty buys respect—even if it costs fingers. The gang offers what the village doesn’t: a code, a boss who never flinches, and a place where weakness is punished but never abandoned.
Initiation is simple, painful, permanent—classic yakuza sakazuki ceremony with a horror twist.
Interview: Daigo or wakagashira questions the recruit alone. Weak answers end with a beating; strong ones earn a nod.
Yubitsume Test: Recruit cuts off a pinky joint (or part) with a tantō, wraps it in white cloth, offers it to Daigo as proof of resolve.
Sakazuki: Sake cups exchanged—recruit drinks from Daigo’s cup (symbolizing oyabun-kobun bond), then Daigo from recruit’s. Cups filled with sake mixed with a drop of the recruit’s blood.
Irezumi Start: First session of full-back tattoo begins that night—bear trap motif for Yamaoroshi. Pain is the final test.
Since the loop, new recruits are rare; the eight survivors guard their shrinking family fiercely.
Eight men left, all watching each other for black veins or child-voice whispers. The den runs, but games are tense—tiles land wrong, sake tastes off. Daigo keeps order with razor smiles, but even he feels the mountain pulling. They collect debts mechanically, break legs when ordered, but some stare too long at the woods. The harvest is thinning their ranks faster than any rival ever could.
The Yamaoroshi-gumi was once the village’s iron spine.
Now it’s bleeding out in red lantern light, wondering which brother will kneel and whisper next.