YAKUSUN

☆

YAKUSUN ☆

KAZUA TAOKA

A man with tattoos wearing a beige kimono-style robe, sitting at a wooden bar, drinking whisky from a glass. A large bottle labeled 'YAKUSUN WHISKY' with a photo of a man is on the table.

Nickname: ‘The Godfather of Godfathers’

Personality:
Calculated, charismatic, and ruthlessly disciplined, Kazuo Taoka embodied the code of the old-school Yakuza. Known for his piercing gaze and calm authority, he ruled not through brutal force—but by commanding unwavering respect. He believed in loyalty, order, and the unwritten rules of the underworld.

Famous For:
As the legendary boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi—the largest Yakuza empire in Japan—Taoka transformed a regional operation into a national empire.

He was feared. He was respected. He was untouchable.

  • A man with tattoos and a choker reading 'Yaku Sun' is seated in a dimly lit room, holding a glass of whiskey in his right hand, with a cigar in his mouth, in a room decorated with Asian art and traditional decor.

‘The GodFather of Godfathers’

親分の中の親分

Kazuo Taoka (田岡 一雄, 1913–1981) was one of the most powerful and legendary Yakuza bosses in modern Japanese history. Known as the “Godfather of Godfathers,” he led the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest Yakuza syndicate, from 1946 until his death in 1981.

Under his ruthless yet strategic leadership, the group expanded exponentially, transforming from a local Kobe gang into a nationwide criminal empire with tens of thousands of members.

Taoka was renowned for his strict code of discipline, business acumen, and ability to negotiate with both politicians and rival gangs, earning respect even outside the underworld.

Despite his fearsome reputation, he had a soft spot for traditional Japanese culture and was known to enjoy poetry and bonsai. Also sometimes nicknamed "Kuma" (the Bear) for his stocky build and fearsome presence, Taoka left an indelible mark on the Yakuza world, setting the standard for organised crime leadership in post-war Japan.

A man dressed in black traditional Japanese clothing kneels on the floor, rolling a wooden barrel labeled 'YAKUSUN' in a cellar filled with stacked barrels.

FIND your FAVOURITE SIP

CLASSIC Whisky

A bottle of Yakusun Whisky Spirit Drink featuring a black and white portrait of a Japanese man with tattoos, labeled as Japanese Heritage Classic.

YAKUSUN Classic is a unique Japanese-inspired recipe created by blending selected finest spirits with AGED JAPANESE WHISKY.

ヤクスン・クラシックは、厳選されたスピリッツと熟成された日本産のウイスキーをブレンドして作られた、日本にインスパイアされたユニークなレシピです。

EASY WHISKY SERVES

A man in a red robe stands with folded arms behind a wooden table, with a coconut drink garnished with mint leaves and ice in the foreground and a halved coconut on the table.

Japanese Mizuwari

A Mizuwari Reinvented
Trade mineral water for coconut water in this bold twist on the classic Mizuwari. The natural sweetness and electrolytes of coconut water amplify the fresh, herbal complexity of YAKUSUN CLASSIC.

Build it:

  • 50ml YAKUSUN CLASSIC into a chilled highball

  • Add ice, stir to chill

  • Top with coconut water, stir once
    Bright, refreshing, and made for modern palates.

An older man with tattoos wearing a brown kimono-style garment is sitting at a wooden table, stirring a bright green cocktail with a lemon slice garnish in a tall glass, with a backdrop of traditional Japanese sliding doors and pink cherry blossoms.

Matcha Tea Highball

Matcha Harmony Highball: A Japanese Twist on the Classic
Elevate your Highball with a citrusy, umami-rich blend. YAKUSUN CLASSIC floral depth meets lemon, honey, and matcha for a layered refreshment with cultural flair.

Build it:

  • Combine 40ml YAKUSUN CLASSIC, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml honey

  • Add ¼ tsp matcha, top with soda water

  • Stir thoroughly, add ice
    A vibrant, modern homage to Japanese craftsmanship.

A woman with short black hair and tattoos on her arms wears a beige kimono-style top and sits at a wooden table with a tall glass of lemonade garnished with a sprig of mint in front of her. She has her eyes closed.

YAKUSUN Highball

YAKUSUN Highball: Classic Form, Contemporary Freshness
This is Japan’s highball perfected—YAKUSUN CLASSIC delivers fruity vibrancy and smooth character, made sharper with soda and a fresh mint garnish. Ideal for warm days, casual elegance, and clean flavor seekers.

Build it:

  • 50ml YAKUSUN CLASSIC into a highball glass

  • Add ice, top with soda

  • Garnish with mint
    Light, balanced, endlessly sippable.