You want to send me to Michael Thompson, who bucked the whole AB, dropped out and testified against them, and you think I'm going to go there and convince him to recant?

He has created this illusion of who he is.

I was just stunned that I would have a conversation like this with an ex-gang leader.

I was in the hearing and I thought, oh my goodness, these girls are fallen for his bullshit.

I think they're going to let this guy out.

The world would be a much better place with this man out.

It's like a light just kind of pours out of him.

And I was determined to help that

light get out into the world. Blood memory, a new podcast series from love and radio. Search for

blood memory wherever you get your podcasts. It's Tuesday, the 11th of July, 1978, at the Swanky Bellamy Nightclub in Kyoto, Japan.

A limbo act is reaching its climax and 50 patrons rise to applaud.

Among them, Kazuo Toaka, Japan's godfather.

A man the Sicilians would have called the Capo di Tuticapi, third boss of

the Yamaguchi-Gumi, demigod to over 12,000 Yakuza across the Japanese archipelago.

Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, is, like so many cities, a Yamaguchi-Gumi stronghold.

So when Teoka, impeccably suited, as always, rises to applaud the act alongside the 50 others.

He'd be forgiven for assuming he's untouchable.

As powerful here as he'd be in the Yamaguchi's headquarters and hometown of Kobe.

But he's wrong.

As the crowd cheers, a young man in a white shirt rises from his seat and walks calmly towards the Godfather's table beside the stage.

The man gets to within 15 feet of 65-year-old Telka, pulls out a 38-caliber pistol and opens fire.

His first bullet pops a hole in Teoka's neck.

...