Kazuo Nakanishi (?? ??, Nakanishi Kazuo, October 25, 1922 – September 1, 2003) was briefly the leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza syndicate in the chaotic years of the Yama-Ichi War.
He was also the founder and 1st kumicho of the Nakanishi-gumi.
Nakanishi accepted the temporary leadership position after the assassination of Masahisa Takenaka, but was never considered an official kumicho (supreme Godfather) of the Kobe-based gang, despite heading it from 1985-1989.
In 1989, Yoshinori Watanabe was elected as fifth kumicho.
After Watanabe's accession, Nakanishi continued to work for the gang as a senior advisor and leader of 15 sub-gangs in Osaka.