Rock4four: the 4/4 rockers

4.1 The Tommy Knocker

Several nights ago, Tommy Tokugawa was attacked, and is now lying in a hospital bed, critical. The story made the news, the following day, as Tommy, while probably not the most powerful or important underworld figure yet, is certainly the most high profile, as the oyabun, or de-facto ruler of his deceased father's crime syndicate, the Tokugawa Kai, 'one of Japan's biggest crime syndicates':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa-kai

Police have questioned dozens of people, about the attack, but no arrests have been made as yet. As Yuji Yoshida, co owner of the Rock of Gibraltar told me: 'If they arrested everyone in Yokohama, with a grudge, or a motive, or everyone who's got a bad word to say about Tommy Tokugawa, they'd have to use Yokohama baseball stadium as the holding tank. Plenty of people in this town think he's a complete scumbag. Including me.'

Yet, while Tommy fights for his life, at least one good point emerges - the nastiness, and bad feeling that was threatening the summer beach party season has, for now, dissipated. Yuji Fuji who, like many, was questioned, and later released without charge, said: 'there's no need, and no place, for violence, in Kanagawa nightlife. I'm genuinely sorry, to hear what happened, and my best wishes go to Tommy and his family. I've spoken to Tommy's brother, Terry, and given him my condolences. I want to draw a line under any bad feeling that existed before, because what has happened to Tommy this week is way, way out of line.'

While the sincerity of his public sentiment seems genuine, Yuji has made the most of his newfound opportunity, and lack of distraction, in laying the final plans of Rock4four 2009. the materials for the bars, stages and dance floors have been ordered and are waiting at the beach, and the DJs and bar staff are booked too - only the sound checks and drink orders remain on the 'to do' list.