Daidoji Faction

The Daidoji Faction (, Daidōji-ippa) is a secretive political organization featured in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
== Overview ==
The Daidoji Faction is a secretive alliance of important Japanese politicians who work together to maintain their control over the country's politics and economy. The group was created by its namesake, Minoru Daidoji, in the aftermath of World War II to ensure the continued influence of the country's pre-war political elite in the post-war period.
The group achieves their aims through both legal means, such as their work through the Citizens' Liberal Party (which up until 2019 was run by senior member Yutaka Ogikubo), and illegal means: The group maintains a network of spies and assassins which they utilize to further their goals and eliminate threats to their power.
Their network of spies has hideouts in every major city in Japan, but their main base of operations seems to be the eponymous Daidoji Temple in Tokyo, run by a mysterious senior member known only as the Head Priest. Daidoji agents refer to each other by codenames. 
== Involvement ==
=== Yakuza 6: The Song of Life: 2016 ===
After Kazuma Kiryu and the Hirose Family expose the secret of Onomichi; a giant illegally constructed battleship which Minoru Daidoji had spent most of his life trying to keep hidden, Tsuneo Iwami approaches a dying Daidoji with an offer: If he grants the support of the Daidoji Faction for his plan to take control of the Yomei Alliance and the Tojo Clan, he'll ensure Daidoji cannot be connected to the battleship and all blame for its illegal development will be pinned on his late father, Heizo Iwami. Daidoji agrees on the condition that Tsuneo also arrange Kiryu's murder for exposing the secret.
Ultimately, Tsuneo fails to kill Kiryu (though his henchman, Katsumi Sugai, does critically injure him) and is later arrested for his father's murder. After Minoru Daidoji dies of old age, his unnamed successor approaches Kiryu in the hospital and offers him a briefcase full of money in exchange for his silence on Daidoji's involvement with the battleship. However, Kiryu refuses and makes the successor another offer instead: He'll keep Daidoji's secret if the Daidoji Faction helps fake his death and also arranges for the acquittal of all Tojo Clan leaders in their upcoming racketeering trials. Begrudgingly, the successor agrees to the deal.
=== Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name: 2019 ===
The Daidoji Faction funds Morning Glory Orphanage through dummy accounts to keep the funding from being traced back to them. They face turmoil when Kiryu breaks protocol to rescue Kihei Hanawa, who had been captured during an operation. The ironclad rules of the Faction mean Kiryu must kill Yuki Tsuruno, who can leak Kiryu's survival, breaking their contract. Kiryu's refusal to kill causes Hanawa to be forced to kill his underling, but the Boss allowed Hanawa and Kiryu both to survive after Tsuruno bought Kiryu's services for ¥50 billion, noting that the bond forged between Hanawa and Kiryu is of great benefit to the faction.
After members of the Kijin Clan took over the Cabaret Grand, Hanawa paid the manger for the costs of the damages. After the apparent murder of Nishitani III, the bulk of Kiryu's work for the Watase family was complete so Hanawa suggested he return to the Daidoji Temple. When Masaru Watase was released from prison one month later Hanawa aided the Watase family in carrying out the dissolution. Yoshimura then captured Nishitani and Shishido, forcing them to become Daidoji agents. As a reward for his services the Daidoji offered Kiryu a vacation with no set time limit. The Joryu alias is retired and he readopted the name Taichi Suzuki for his trip to Hawaii.
=== Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth: 2023 ===
The Daidoji Faction has weakened greatly following Ryo Aoki's tenure as Governor of Tokyo, which caused Ogikubo to fall out of power and the CLP to lose support after Aoki's crimes are made public. 
With the CLP no longer the leading political party in Japan, the Daidoji are only able to send five agents to Hawaii for their search for Akane Kishida, including Hanawa and Kiryu. Their search for Akane is done in hopes of finding something to use as leverage against the current political leaders, whom they suspect are collaborating with Palekana in illicit matters. 
The search leads Kiryu to reunite with Ichiban Kasuga and the two team up, along with Kasuga's acquaintances, to achieve their shared goal. Eiji Mitamura, acting as a friend to Kasuga, betrays him and the group, leading to the death of Hanawa and Kiryu's return to Japan. The mission of saving Akane is eventually fulfilled by Kasuga and his team. 
While Makoto Date arranges for Kiryu to eavesdrop on old acquaintances, the Daidoji do not act in spite of the risk of breaching the agreement made with Kiryu. Kiryu is technically remaining within the agreement's boundaries, but this changes when Date arranges for a meeting with Haruka Sawamura. They abduct Date, but opt not to kill after Kiryu decides to not meet Haruka in a last-second decision. 
Hanawa's final message to the faction - to support Kiryu and his decisions - along with the fact that exposing the link between the Japanese government, Bleach Japan, and Palekana will severely tarnish the CLP's political rivals, convinces the remaining Daidoji members to help both Kiryu and Kasuga in the final act. 
== Notable Members ==
* Minoru Daidoji - Founder and First Leader (1940's-2016)
* The Boss - High-Ranking Member
* Yutaka Ogikubo - High-Ranking Member
* The Head Priest - High-Ranking Member
* Kihei Hanawa - Manager
* Yoshimura - Manager
* Kazuma Kiryu - Agent
* Kosei Shishido - Captive Agent
* Homare Nishitani III - Captive Agent
Category:Political Organizations
Category:Japanese Government
Category:Citizens' Liberal Party