野村悟（Nomura Satoru），是日本福岡「工藤會」（Kudō-kai）的會長，他的名字不僅在日本黑道界赫赫有名，更因為成為日本戰後首位被判處死刑的現任黑幫組織首腦而震撼社會。這項判決於2021年由福岡地方法院做出，在日本司法史上極為罕見，也象徵政府對黑幫暴力行為的強烈回擊。

野村悟出生於1946年，來自九州北部的北九州市。他在1970年代進入工藤會，隨著組織發展為極具戰鬥力的黑道團體之一，他也迅速攀升，最終成為會長。在他的領導下，工藤會以「準軍事化」運作而聞名，其殘暴與挑戰警方與社會秩序的行為，甚至讓其他暴力團都避之唯恐不及。

野村的犯行中最令人震驚的，是他策劃並下令多起針對「平民」的暴力襲擊事件，這在過去的黑幫文化中是極為罕見的。過往日本黑幫組織與警方之間雖敵對，卻也有一種「潛規則」：盡量避免牽連無辜。然而野村一再打破這條底線。

例如，2012年福岡地區一名牙醫因參與一件與工藤會有關的案件證詞，就在街上被持刀黑衣人襲擊，雖然倖存但身受重傷。更早在1998年，一名前警察因參與對工藤會的不法取締而遭槍擊，重傷癱瘓。而在2014年，一名護理人員因幫助受害人接受醫療與警方合作調查，也遭暴力襲擊。

這些攻擊的共同點是：受害人皆非黑道份子，而是普通公務員、專業人士，甚至與案件並無直接關聯，只因觸碰工藤會利益，或與警方合作就被鎖定報復。這種公然挑戰法治與社會秩序的態度，讓工藤會成為政府眼中必須根絕的「黑道癌細胞」。

2021年，野村悟與另一名幹部田上不美夫一起被起訴，其中野村被判處死刑，田上則被判無期徒刑。判決宣布後，野村甚至當庭恐嚇法官，冷冷地說：「你會後悔的。」這句話震驚社會，也反映出他對法治毫無敬畏之心。

野村的形象也充滿戲劇性。他時常穿戴名牌，出入高級場所，在警方監控下依然高調生活。他被捕時仍在經營高檔夜總會、地產與地下金融業務，靠著恐嚇、洗錢與操控政治關係，讓工藤會在經濟上極具影響力。他也透過人頭公司壟斷港口建設與公共工程，甚至與部分地方政治人物保持曖昧關係。

總結來說，野村悟的案例不只是日本黑幫史上的轉捩點，也揭示當代黑道已非傳統意義上的「義氣兄弟」，而是如企業集團般的地下權力。他之所以被判死刑，不僅因個人犯行，更是整個黑道文化進一步失控的警示。在當前日本加強反暴力團條例、打擊黑道組織的社會背景下，野村悟的結局也可能象徵著舊時代「黑社會帝王」的終結。

Satoru Nomura, the head of the notorious Japanese yakuza group Kudo-kai, made history by becoming the first organized crime boss in postwar Japan to be sentenced to death. This unprecedented verdict, handed down by the Fukuoka District Court in 2021, sent shockwaves through Japanese society and marked a major turning point in the government’s fight against organized crime.

Born in 1946 in Kitakyushu, a city in northern Kyushu, Nomura joined the Kudo-kai in the 1970s. Under his leadership, the group developed a reputation as one of the most violent and militarized yakuza organizations in the country. Known for its ruthless tactics, Kudo-kai even struck fear into other crime syndicates. Nomura quickly rose through the ranks to become its boss, and under his command, the group openly defied both law enforcement and long-standing underworld norms.

What set Nomura apart was his willingness to cross lines that traditional yakuza groups usually respected. Historically, organized crime syndicates in Japan avoided targeting civilians. Nomura shattered that code. He orchestrated and ordered a series of brutal attacks on ordinary people—civilians, medical workers, and even public officials—simply because they had cooperated with the authorities or were perceived to be obstacles to the group's interests.

In one shocking case in 2012, a dentist who had testified in a case involving the Kudo-kai was stabbed in public and seriously injured. In another incident dating back to 1998, a former police officer was shot and left paralyzed after taking part in operations targeting the group. Even a nurse who treated victims and spoke to police wasn’t spared—she, too, was attacked in 2014. These acts weren’t just criminal—they were calculated messages of intimidation aimed at undermining Japan’s legal system and silencing opposition.

In 2021, Nomura and another senior Kudo-kai member, Fumio Tanoue, were brought to justice. Nomura was sentenced to death; Tanoue received a life sentence. When the verdict was read out, Nomura chillingly threatened the presiding judge, saying, “You’ll regret this,” a statement that captured his brazen contempt for the law.

Nomura’s lifestyle added to his notoriety. He was frequently seen dressed in designer brands, living extravagantly, and frequenting upscale establishments—all while under police surveillance. Despite being a criminal boss, he ran high-end nightclubs, dabbled in real estate, and was deeply involved in underground financial dealings. Through shell companies, the Kudo-kai under his direction secured influence in major public works projects, including port construction, and maintained questionable ties with local politicians.

Ultimately, Nomura’s case was not just about one man’s crimes—it symbolized the erosion of the old yakuza codes and the rise of a more aggressive, business-like, and socially disruptive form of organized crime. His death sentence signaled a broader shift in Japan’s approach to such groups, reflecting a zero-tolerance policy and a determination to dismantle violent organizations at their roots. In many ways, the fall of Satoru Nomura marks the end of an era—the death of the “underworld emperor” figure in Japanese crime history.