Japan dumpling boss shot dead in Kyoto: reports

TOKYO- The charismatic boss of a well-known dumpling restaurant chain was shot dead on Thursday in the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto, a hotbed of the country's yakuza mobsters, local media reported.

Takayuki Ohigashi, 72, was found bleeding and unconscious in a parking lot in front of the company's headquarters in Kyoto at about 7am, the Sankei Shimbun newspaper said.

He was later confirmed dead at hospital, public broadcaster NHK said.

He was bleeding from at least three wounds, suggesting he had been shot multiple times, reports said.

Ohigashi was president of the "Gyoza no Ohsho (King of Dumplings)" chain, operating more than 650 restaurants throughout Japan, as well as a handful abroad.

Gun crime is rare in Japan, and criminality involving firearms usually has a connection to yakuza organised crime groups.