Saizo Kishimoto

is a Japanese organized crime figure. He is a "saiko komon", or senior advisor, in the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's most powerful yakuza syndicate. He also heads his own gang, the Kishimoto-gumi.

In World War II, Kishimoto applied and became an air squadron member in the Imperial Navy. However, he survived until the end of the war before it made a sortie. He was demobilized, and became a staff member in the Kobe City Office. In about 1955, he became a "shatei" (舎弟 younger brother) of a childhood friend, Yoshikazu Nakayama (中山 美一), who was "kumicho" of the Nakayama-gumi, and joined the Third Yamaguchi-gumi. He continued to work in the city office until 1964.

He was promoted from "shateigashira" (舎弟頭 head of younger brothers) of the Nakayama-gumi to a formal member of the Third Yamaguchi-gumi in December, 1973, after Nakayama retired. When the Fourth Yamaguchi-gumi started in June, 1984, he assumed the position of "honbucho" (本部長 top of headquarters) and "wakagashira-hosa" (若頭補佐 eldest son's assistant) of it. When the Fifth Yamaguchi-gumi started in May, 1989, he was promotional to "shatei" and assumed the position of "sohonbucho" (総本部長 top of general headquarters). He has acted for the "wakagashira" and "shateigashira" of Yamaguchi-gumi since October, 1998.

It was Kishimoto who, on July 29, 2005, read a prepared statement to a meeting of Yamaguchi-gumi bosses announcing the retirement of then-"kumicho" (Godfather) Yoshinori Watanabe.When the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi started in August, 2005, he assumed the position of "saiko-komon" and leader of its Hanshin block.