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The Tōa-kai is a yakuza syndicate based in Tokyo. Originally named the "Voice of the East Gang" Yakuza: Japan's criminal underworld, p.228, 2003, David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro, , with its historic leader Hisayuki Machii, the Toa-kai was deeply involved in the history of Tokyo's community and Japan's anti-communist circles in the 20th century.
The Tosei-kai quickly became one of Tokyo's most powerful gangs, and had significantly expanded during the time of the post-war economic growth. Membership reached 1,500 in the 1960s. As the leader of the syndicate, Machii became an essential "fixer" between Japan and South Korea. "Hisayuki Machii - Top 10 Real-Life Mob Bosses", 20 January 2011, TIME
Increasing police crackdowns by 1965 forced Machii to disband the Tosei-kai and establish a new gang, the Tōa Yūai Jigyō Kumiai, or "East Asia Friendship Enterprise Association". He also formed a "legitimate" company called the Tōa Sōgo Kigyō, or East Asia Enterprises Company, and named power-broker Yoshio Kodama as chairman of the board. Yakuza: Japan's criminal underworld, p.229, 2003, David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro, Afterwards, the Toa Yuai Jigyo Kumiai changed the name as Tōa Yūai and Toa-kai.
The founder Machii retired in the 1980s, and died of heart failure on September 14, 2002, in Tokyo. Also known as a successful businessman, he was 79. "Mr. Hisayuki Machii passes away", 21 September 2002, 47 News, Kyodo
The origin of the Yoshimi-kogyo reportedly traces back to the late 20th century, when Toshio Gibo, an Ryukyuans mobster, formed an anti-left wing nationalist organization named the Makoto-kai in Okinawa under influence of Yoshio Kodama. Gibo met with Machii through Kodama, founding an affiliate of the Tosei-kai in Okinawa.
Okinawa's underworld has been known for its exclusiveness since the 20th century, where the dominating Kyokuryu-kai has persistently attacked and violently expelled any yakuza syndicate attempting to enter the island. The reason why the Toa-kai has been able to be active on the island may be because the group has historically been more oriented to legitimate businesses, and of its gentle stance, in contrast to other yakuza syndicates which have attempted to expand their influences into Okinawa with heavy violence, such as the Yamaguchi-gumi and especially the Dojin-kai. For example, in 2002 in Okinawa, only one Yoshimi member was arrested, while 56 Kyokuryu-kai members and 95 Okinawa Kyokuryu-kai members were arrested.
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