The Yakuza Thread

[Dutch Baka]

Okay, a thread for all your questions and opinions,etc about the Yakuza.:-)


What is the Yakuza
Yakuza (やくざ or ヤクザ), also known as gokudō (極道), are members of traditional organized crime groups in Japan. Today, the yakuza are the largest organized crime phenomenon in the world, as noted in the Guinness Book of Records.

In Japanese legal terminology, yakuza organizations are referred to as bōryokudan, literally "violence groups". Yakuza members consider this an insult, as bōryokudan is a term which can be applied to any violent criminal. In the Western press they are sometimes called the "Japanese mafia," by analogy with other traditionally Italian-Sicilian organized crime groups of the same name.

Origin and history

The term "Yakuza" comes from a Japanese card game, Oicho-Kabu (played with hanafuda or kabufuda cards), and means "good for nothing". Similar to baccarat, the values of the cards are added together and the last digit of the sum is taken as the score. The worst hand in the game is a set of eight, nine and three, which gives a sum of 20 and a score of 0. In traditional Japanese forms of counting, these numbers are called Ya, Ku and Sa respectively, thus the origin of the word "yakuza". The yakuza took this name because the Ya-Ku-Za hand requires the most skill (at judging opponents, etc.) and, obviously, the least luck in order to win (i.e., the hand is the worst that a player can receive based on luck of the draw, so only a consummate expert could have enough talent to counteract his bad luck and still win with such a hand). The name was also used because it signified bad fortune, presumably for anyone who went up against the group.

In modern Japanese counting, eight, nine and three could be pronounced "hachi-kyu-san," a name by which the yakuza are sometimes called in Japan today.

Read more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza#Origin_and_history)

Organization and activities

Structure

During the formation of the yakuza, they adopted the traditional Japanese hierarchical structure of oyabun-kobun where kobun (子分; lit. children) owe their allegiance to the oyabun (親分; lit. father). In a much later period, the code of "jingi" (仁義, justice and duty) was developed where loyalty and respect are a way of life. The oyabun-kobun relationship is formalized by ceremonial sharing of sake from a single cup. This ritual is not exclusive to the yakuza ― it is also commonly performed in traditional Japanese Shinto weddings.

During the World War II period in Japan, the more traditional tekiya/bakuto form of organisation declined as the entire population was mobilised to participate in the war effort and society came under strict military government. However, after the war, the yakuza adapted again.

Prospective yakuza come from all walks of life. The most romantic tales tell how yakuza accept sons who have been abandoned or exiled by their parents. Many yakuza start out in junior high school or high school as common street thugs or members of bōsōzoku gangs. Some yakuza "goons" are actually mentally handicapped, but recruited due to their large physiques. Perhaps because of its lower socio-economic status, numerous yakuza members come from Okinawa. However, the leadership levels of yakuza gangs usually consist of very sharp, cunning, intelligent men, as the process to rise to the top-levels in the yakuza can be very competitive and Darwinian.

Yakuza groups are headed by an Oyabun or Kumichō (組長, family head) who gives orders to his subordinates, the kobun. In this respect, the organization is a variation of the traditional Japanese senpai-kōhai (senior-junior) model. Members of yakuza gangs cut their family ties and transfer their loyalty to the gang boss. They refer to each other as family members - fathers and elder and younger brothers. The Yakuza is populated entirely by men, and there are usually no women involved except the Oyabun's wife who is called "o-nee-san" (older sister). Unlike many crime groups, women are sometimes involved in "The Life". When the Yamaguchi Gumi (Family) boss was shot in the late nineties, his wife took over as boss of the largest Yakuza Family albeit for a short time.

Each member's connection is ranked by the hierarchy of sakazuki (sake sharing). Kumicho are at the top, and control various saikō-komon (最高顧問, senior advisors). The saikō-komon control their own turfs in different areas or cities. They have their own underlings, including other underbosses, advisors, accountants and enforcers. Those who have received sake from oyabun are part of the immediate family and ranked in terms of elder or younger brothers. However, each kobun, in turn, can offer sakazuki as oyabun to his underling to form an affiliated organisation, which might in turn form lower ranked organisations. In the Yamaguchi-gumi, which controls some 2500 businesses and 500 yakuza groups, there are even 5th rank subsidiary organisations.

Read more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza#Organization_and_activities)

More information on the yakuza
The japanese Mafia, Yakuza. (http://web.telia.com/~u31302275/yakuza.htm)
Yakuza: Past and Present (http://morpho.dar.net/~northrup/yakuza.html)
Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia (http://members.tripod.com/~orgcrime/japgangint.htm)

[Mars Man]

Looks very informative and educational. Good work there Dutch Baka san !!

[Emoni]

Pasted things from Wikipedia? Well, it is a start I guess.

At least it is a fresh thread that is a lot more serious than the last shame that wasn't even worth calling a Yakuza thread.

One thing I'll add, which is related to information a lot of people are told when they first come to Japan. "If you have a tattoo you can't go to an onsen because Yakuza usually are the people who wear tattoos." Just about every person who comes here seems to hear that. For the most part it seems to be true, as onsens usually have signs even in English that tattoos are not allowed.

However, there are onsens that seem to have NO problem with Yazuka. One of these is the older onsen that looks like a large greek building in Dogo way down in Shikoku. I went in here only to run into three guys with full body tattoos just sitting back in the onsen baths. The were in their 40s or so, so these weren't just punks or anything. No problems at all, they were just sitting around talking between eachother. No one really seemed to care.

I have to say it was quite interesting to see. I've been all over Japan but I really haven't run into that many Yakuza (that I was AWARE of, key point here), and I haven't had any trouble with them either. It really depends where you are, and what is going on at the time I think. I know from people who wander around in Kabukicho at all hours like idiots, they tend to run into Yakuza somewhat frequently.

[Dutch Baka]

Yakuza on the rise again in Japan

ELEANOR HALL: The power of Japan's mafia, the Yakuza is on the rise again, as the criminal gangs cash in on a rebounding economy.

After a decade and a half in the economic doldrums, Japan's property market is showing signs of movement.

But as the prices have risen so have acts of extortion and even murder.

And while police have arrested one Yakuza leader this month over a suspicious property deal, there are accusations that authorities are not doing enough to control the criminal gangs.

Hear the whole story in MP3 format
(http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200605/r87268_257531.mp3)

[leonmarino]

Where did you get this newsclip from?

EDIT: Ow, World Today, right? :p

[Dutch Baka]

Where did you get this newsclip from?
EDIT: Ow, World Today, right? :p

yes from the world today, here (http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1645231.htm) is the normal news link * I thought let's try some new way to get the news. :relief:

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Cool thread :cool: !
I really don't know that much about yakuza, but this is what i have gathered/learnt so far;
a. Yukaza deal almost entirely in buisness affairs now days, and will not bother anyone unless they are directly involved in their affairs.
b. Some thugs somtimes call themselves yukaza thinking it is cool, or some are mistaken for yakuza, but yukaza are not mindless thugs. Sometimes rumors spread when people get mugged or beaten up randomly, but this is not the yakuza way. Its bad buisness for yukaza to make their presence felt that way ;) .

As to the women yakuza thing, do yakuza women ever get tattoed?

[Dutch Baka]

An interesting article, about Yakuza samurai style :relief:

Former gangster details Yamaguchi-gumi

TOKYO - Shinji Ishihara's story, as he tells it, starts with a murder.

It was the summer of 1970. Though the Yamaguchi-gumi was easily the biggest gangster syndicate in Japan, with tens of thousands of members, it was still trying to crack the huge Tokyo market for vice, which was tightly controlled by smaller but deeply entrenched gangs.

Ishihara was one of the first Yamaguchi-gumi bosses to try to break their monopoly. With several underlings, he rented a small apartment near a popular red-light district and started a series of scams aimed at cheating the competition out of its profits.

"We'd target other gangs," he recalled, "mainly because they had money and they weren't going to run off and complain to the police."

The whole story (http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/breaking_news/14683488.htm)

[Faustianideals]

Those were interesting reads, thanks for posting.

[Dutch Baka]

I just wanted to share this interesting old documentary about the Yamaguchi gumi, the largest Mafia in the world.

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiEZDZ1Lepg&mode=related&search=)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn7pFACR7s0&mode=related&search=)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxrZu2U9f-A&mode=related&search=)
Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oX5x51hIBM&mode=related&search=)

Don't mess with the Yamaguchi Gumi.

[-Rudel-]

I'm going off by what my wife says, but apparently a lot of the clubs that are ran in Okinawa, are owned by the Yakuza. Yet they seem to be harmless to us Foreigners and military, I have yet to hear anything about crimes with them, here in Okinawa.

If these clubs are ran by the Yakuza, it amazes me that at this one club that me and my wife use to go to, we would always get a free drink every now and then, and only I would pay to get in, while ALL or most others would have to pay, even the girls themselves. I'm not sure if that is from going there all the time, and they see I don't cause any trouble (I'm there for dancing), or if they are just being nice because I like it there. Keep in mind, they know I'm military so.

They seem to be here for the money and don't want any trouble, however, they are proud to drive around in there black vehicals, and sometimes regular vehicles, voicing their opinions.

[Han Chan]

A scientific report from 2003 called: “TRANSNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF CHINESE CRIME ORGANIZATIONS” claims that the Yakuza are fearing the Chinese Snakehead groups:
“Traditionally the most active Chinese criminal groups in Japan have been based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Fujian Province. However, in 1997 the National Police Agency, Japan’s equivalent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reported that several Hong Kong-based criminal organizations, including the 14K, had been expanding their operations in Japan since the 1980s. Already in 1997, the 14K had branches in Fukuoka, Osaka, Sapporo, and Tokyo, each with at least 1,000 members. Reportedly, the 14K operatives are feared even by Japan’s powerful Yakuza crime groups. The Yakuza have cooperated widely with snakeheads from Chinese trafficking syndicates (sometimes but not necessarily involved with the 14K) in importing large numbers of illegal Chinese migrants. That practice takes advantage of a long tradition of Japanese authorities allowing Chinese illegal migrants to take up residence and fill the gaps in Japan’s labor market. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak airport is a central starting point for this activity. Because that market has been depressed for some time, in recent years the illegal Chinese have
turned increasingly to crime after arriving in Japan.”
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/ChineseOrgCrime.pdf

It would seem like the power of the Snakehead groups is based on the authorities turning a blind eye to the illegal human trafficking. It would seem that it is about time to consider increased controlled immigration if the Japanese industries need of foreign workers is not going to undermine the law and order in Japan. Presently the Government is not even able to sort things out so some more Philippine nurses could fill some of the vacancies in the health sector in Japan.

[gaijinalways]

I would think for most foreigners, they're far less likley to run afoul of the Yakuza; as we're less likley to use a 'loan shark' or go to Yakuza bars where the menus have no prices.

[maushan3]

I would like to think that these guys are a good thing for Japan, they keep things right in order, unlike in western countries, where many innocent people get affected by mafias, right??

Mauricio

[Dutch Baka]

As far as what I have heard, they do keep the streets save. You can't say that about Amsterdam.

[gaijinalways]

And how do they keep the streets safe?　When is the last time that women being forced into prostitution　or being overcharged for things keep the streets safe?

[Mikawa Ossan]

And how do they keep the streets safe?　When is the last time that women being forced into prostitution　or being overcharged for things keep the streets safe?
I have to agree with gaijinalways in asking this question. How do they keep the streets safe? Do you think the relatively low crime rate in Japan is due to the yakuza?!?!?!

[Dutch Baka]

I am just telling you what I have heard from my wife (whom is Japanese), and from friends (whom are also Japanese).

I know about the prostitution, drugs, gambling, and other illegal businesses. But I think that the relatively low crime rate on the street, CAN be because of Yakuza is in the area. I would like to see some opinions from Japanese people about this.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I'd love to hear what our members have to say about this, but I have to say, I have NEVER heard anyone say that about the yakuza before.

I have heard that most of the yakuza are actually really nice people, though. I may have told this story before, but I knew a guy whose bike got stolen, and the local yakuza who found out about it somehow bought the guy a new bike!

I know of some apartment buildings reportedly owned by yakuza in the area. They are just normal apartments.

I have had direct dealings with the yakuza before on numerous occassions at a prior job of mine. Most of them are indeed nice, but there was one who had a bad temper. He never did anything more than yell at us, though.

Still, I have never heard of or known the yakuza to reduce street crime!

[Dutch Baka]

as a small criminal where do you want to make trouble, in a neighborhood where you know there is a lot of Yakuza, or in a place where you know you won't have trouble with them.

I will come back on this, because I think it is an interesting thing to discuss, but I have to eat now.

[craftsman]

Dutch, that's a fascinating documentary you linked. Thank you. I enjoyed it.

A former low level Yakuza soldier lives at the end of my road. His nose is flat like a boxers and he had peroxide hair always tied in a pony tail. He always looks like he's growling, never says hello and is accompanied with two equally tough looking characters.

He has five beautiful little daughters, some of whom have taken a shine to my boys and as our children often play and generally hang out together, I do get a nod now when I pass his low set racing car on my scooter.

I can't help hoping that in the future the bonds between them don't get too strong, though!

[epigene]

I have to agree with gaijinalways in asking this question. How do they keep the streets safe? Do you think the relatively low crime rate in Japan is due to the yakuza?!?!?!

If you mean safe in the true sense, I think not.
Although what I heard is strictly hearsay, I understand that "external quiet in the streets" is probably maintained by the yakuza because they earn "kickbacks" from local shops and businesses. Shopowners who don't comply are harassed and eventually see business decline and leave.
Of course, I don't believe this applies to all cities and all commercial districts across Japan. :relief:

However, this style of yakuza business is traditional and is becoming less common these days. I've read that income from shopowners and harassing corporate stockholders meetings is dwindling (due to mom-and-pop shops giving way to shopping centers and supermarkets and administrative measures in place to minimize yakuza access to shareholder meetings) and yakuza has expanded into stock and investment markets (the "keizai yakuza"). They are also believed to be the masterminds behind the growing number of burglaries and robberies committed by illegal foreign nationals (who were not able to find jobs in Japan).

[Sirius2B]

Fascinating topic, and very well presented, Dutch Baka...
Thanks.

[Ewok85]

And how do they keep the streets safe?　When is the last time that women being forced into prostitution　or being overcharged for things keep the streets safe?
Now this IS interesting. I have never, ever heard of women in Japan being forced into prostitution or adult industries. Most women who are in the various adult industries are generally well educated, and do it for 3-6months for the money - which is very good. Being forced to due to blackmail, financial hardship or drug dependence (often reasons stated overseas) don't exist in Japan, and I dare you to find proof otherwise.

For example I went out for dinner in Kabukicho with some friends, and my girlfriend joined us around 11pm. She mentioned that she had no less than 8 guys ask if she was interested in doing some work in fuzoku, mainly AV videos. For a laugh on the way back to the station she walked a few meters infront of the rest of us and we watched as scouts came up and asked her if she was interested, and I "saved" her, leaving the scout with the funniest expression of "what the .... ??" on his face.

But for less than one hours "work", they can make 100,000yen cash and don't have to give any details. If you didn't mind, where's the issue?

[Han Chan]

Now this IS interesting. I have never, ever heard of women in Japan being forced into prostitution or adult industries. Most women who are in the various adult industries are generally well educated, and do it for 3-6months for the money - which is very good. Being forced to due to blackmail, financial hardship or drug dependence (often reasons stated overseas) don't exist in Japan, and I dare you to find proof otherwise.


This is a myth created by the Waiwai magazines! Tragic that even some japanese women believes this. The sex industry has a strong interest in creating these kind of myths in order to make prostitution seem harmless. However, I do believe that some "normal" women are sometimes are tempted by the easy money. Certainly most protitutes are real pros either playing "highschool girls", "nurses" or something.

You are obviously not aware that many of the prostitutes in Japan are women who have been trafficked from other Asian countries.

Please look at this thread:

http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6942

[Ewok85]

Ok, you have me there, I have not heard of Japanese women being forced into prostitution, the vast majority do it with a degree of free will.

[gaijinalways]

Ewok, some of the prostitues are also not Japanese, and sometimes they have problems 'seeing' their passports, if you know what I mean. Their stays in the industry are limited to how long they keep their looks and if the Yakuza bosses don't 'get tired' of them.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Oh yes, from what I understand, the human traficking problem is a big one, indeed. I read in the Japan Times several years ago a piece about a woman from South America I think it was who was given false promises and misled into coming to Japan only to find that she was now a sex worker, and it was almost impossible to get out of it.

I thought that the yakuza were mostly financial criminals and into prostitution and gambling these days, and less "on the streets" so to speak. Although I will be the first to admit that I'm no expert on the yakuza!

[Ewok85]

Ewok, some of the prostitues are also not Japanese, and sometimes they have problems 'seeing' their passports, if you know what I mean. Their stays in the industry are limited to how long they keep their looks and if the Yakuza bosses don't 'get tired' of them.

I know some foreigners who work in other industries who are also in such sad situations, and hang around for the money despite it being poor.

Still returns to the point - Are Japanese people being forced into the same situation? Are they a very small minority? Are all adult related industries run by the Yakuza?

[Han Chan]

I know some foreigners who work in other industries who are also in such sad situations, and hang around for the money despite it being poor.
Still returns to the point - Are Japanese people being forced into the same situation? Are they a very small minority? Are all adult related industries run by the Yakuza?
If you are a young women who defaults on repaying her loan you might get the experience. Usually "normal" people are extremely chocked when they fail to repay their loan in a seemingly genuine financial institute and some day the Yakuza turns up at their home. Usually they are able to find to money one way or another. If not the threats become more servere. If the Yakuza thinks that the woman who took the loan or the wife of the man who took the loan i good looking, they will try to make her become prostitute. This commonly known to be the practice of the Yakuza, amazing that you do not know about that!

In the newspapers there are often reports aobut people who have been trapped because of debt. Unfurtunately most people are too scared and ashamed to talk about their personal experiences. If you read the novel "Ka sha" by Miyabe Miyuki you will learn more about this issue.

[pipokun]

I've read Kasha before and I like Miyabe's works, but I don't know the differences between the Waiwai magazines and the novel.
I know ID thefts are not only in Japan, but everywhere...

[Ewok85]

I think this thread is starting to go the way of other fringe culture threads - are we backing up any of this with evidence?

Is the work of fiction from one novelist enough to base these statements upon?

And what you are describing (Japanese people in debt) are rare cases. Its far easier to dissapear, or loan the money from family.

[Dutch Baka]

Police search Yamaguchi-gumi over fatal shooting of rival gangster
Police on Monday searched the headquarters of the nation's largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, in Hyogo Prefecture on suspicion the yakuza group was involved in the killing of a senior member of the rival Sumiyoshi-kai earlier this month.

Last Wednesday, the Tokyo police raided the offices of Kokusui-kai, a mobster group affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, on suspicion of murder and weapons violation charges. They plan to investigate how the Yamaguchi-gumi was involved in the killing, according to the police.

On Feb. 5, Ryoichi Sugiura, 43, a senior member of the Sumiyoshi-kai, was shot dead on a street in Tokyo's Minato Ward. The killing was followed by a spate of shooting incidents in Tokyo which the police believe are connected with a gangland war between the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Sumiyoshi-kai.

According to the police, the Kokusui-kai, which controlled organized crime operations in a downtown area of Tokyo, had been allowing the Tokyo-based Sumiyoshi-kai to operate there on a kind of "lease" basis. However, the Kokusai-kai joined the Kobe-based Yamaguchi-gumi in 2005 and the police say they believe Sugiura was having trouble with the Yamaguchi-gumi over such a "leased" area.

source (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/070226/kyodo/d8nh4j0o1.html)

Small war coming up, or just a couple of incidents?

[Han Chan]

I think this thread is starting to go the way of other fringe culture threads - are we backing up any of this with evidence?

Is the work of fiction from one novelist enough to base these statements upon?

And what you are describing (Japanese people in debt) are rare cases. Its far easier to dissapear, or loan the money from family.

I mentioned the novel because it is based very thorough research. Most reports regarding organized crime and prostitution mainly deals with trafficking of women from other countries. However, in one of these reports one case dealing with japanese girls is mentioned:

US State Department: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Japan - 2004:
The chapter: “Trafficking in Persons” mainly deals with trafficking of women from other countries to the Japanese sex-industry. However, one paragraph also touched on the problem of forcing japans girls to work as prostitutes:
” In May, according to media reports, a sex club boss and a brothel operator became the first persons charged with human trafficking in the country, after forcing two underage Japanese girls to work as prostitutes to repay debts they had incurred at the club. “

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41644.htm

This only one well documented case, but it illustrates that the Yakuza's inhuman treatment of women is both affecting forign and japanese women.

[pipokun]

In terms of hostess bars or host clubs, I am a bit liberal to claim it is highly offensive to call them prostitutes, but I think it is better for Japan to tighten its immigration policy esp., entertainer visa or fake marriage.

It was interesting to meet an Asian guy who worked at a host club.
But without strong Danish networking here, it is rather difficult to work as a host with your student visa. Be careful.

[Mrjones]

well.. I hope they make Japan enough money so they can respect other people as them self. Untill that I treat them the trash back they give me.

[Han Chan]

I would like to think that these guys are a good thing for Japan, they keep things right in order, unlike in western countries, where many innocent people get affected by mafias, right??
Mauricio

Shooting a Mayor! Is that keeping things in order?

Mainichi, 18 April 2007:
Nagasaki mayor dies after being shot by gangster
"NAGASAKI -- Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito, who was seeking re-election, died early Wednesday after being shot by a gangster in front of his campaign office, police said.

Ito, 61, died at Nagasaki University Hospital at 2:28 a.m. from loss of blood.

Police arrested Tetsuya Shiroo, 59, a senior member of the Suishin-kai, affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate, on suspicion of attempted murder because Ito was alive at the time. Police are poised to upgrade the charges to murder.

Shiroo admitted to the allegations during questioning. "I intended to kill him. It's true that I shot him," he was quoted as telling investigators."

[gaijinalways]

I guess this guy was keeping the streets safe for us, huh?:okashii:

[KirinMan]

Oh yes, from what I understand, the human traficking problem is a big one, indeed. I read in the Japan Times several years ago a piece about a woman from South America I think it was who was given false promises and misled into coming to Japan only to find that she was now a sex worker, and it was almost impossible to get out of it.


There were quite a few from Columbia working here in Okinawa in a sex club, have no idea if they were forced into this type of work but they were/are here and in the sex industry.

This is not heresay, I personally know of quite a few women from the P.I. that came here expecting to be "entertainers" and had their passports taken from them on entry to Japan, they were then all forced into living together in one small apartment and had their lives regulated from getting up in the AM to after "work" in the PM. They had no days off during the week, unless they were sick or having their period.

The people that "took care" of them kept them on a very short leash and were some truly scary characters.

Their stories were similar to the stories of the young girls that went to Hollywood in the USA looking to make their "fame and fortune" there.

And what you are describing (Japanese people in debt) are rare cases. Its far easier to dissapear, or loan the money from family.

I lived in one of the soapland districts here in Okinawa, and large number of the women working there came here from mainland, many came to escape their debts from "back home", and others came to work here to pay them off. A few of us were drinking buddies, however they wouldn't come straight out and say they were forced into there work, yet the atmosphere got really "chilly" when I ask a couple of them once what kept them doing what they were doing.

It wasn't really that hard to read between the lines.

I notice quite often here that people ask for "evidence" that these stories are true. In regards to "evidence", and of course this being a message board, it is rather difficult to find out information that can satisfy the questioner. people have to accept what is being written at face value and make their judgments from there own experiences, ideas and or knowledge.

If there was a way to gather the evidence without getting oneself killed for it, I'd bet that it would have been done by now.

I also think the police have a very good idea of what's going on as well, and as long as their are no complaints from the customers about getting ripped off or something like that, they turn a blind eye to it.

Prostitution is illegal here in Japan, but like with so many other things here everything is not black and white, but rather a huge shade of gray.

[Foxtrot Uniform]

I hate the yakuza for exploiting people. They use scams to make money, and this can affect normal people.

One one my family members works in a small business and was sent some kind of package that they did not order. It was all wrapped up and seemed suspicious so they did not open and did not have a return adress, and sure enough a few days later a yakuza memebr comes and asks for money for buying the book. Luckily, the package was returned to him because it was not opened but there was much yelling and threatening from the yakuza.

Another thing I hate about the yakuza is how they bring amphetamines into Japan and sell them. Amphetamines is one of the most popular illegal drugs in Japan, thanks to the yakuza. If you google "amphetamines" and "yakuza", you can get a lot of articles about how they smuggle most of it in.

[Dutch Baka]

I guess this guy was keeping the streets safe for us, huh?:okashii:

Well this guy wasn't, but this one was:


Yakuza dealt with my stalker
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070501a1.html

[SushiShin]

Yakuza is cool! But then again also terrifying :(

I played the game and im following some yakuza series and i must say respect brother!

well i hope i never encounter them in real life!

Cool thread by the way :cool:

[bakaKanadajin]

It's not a far stretch of the imagination to say that the Yakuza keep the streets safe. It may not be 100% true but theoretically, if the Yakuza operate in a certain area, this prevents the scummier petty thieves from becoming problematic. It's like a food chain, The Lion does not eat the smallest creatures, but it does eat those predators that feed on those smallest creatures thus keeping them safe for the most part. While prostitution and gambling are permitted to continue behind closed doors, the average citizen can walk around Kabukicho without fear of being mugged or having their bag snatched by some petty gang of youths.

[centrajapan]

If you live in Japan I am sure you have seen the Yakuza some place. Having lived in Tokyo I saw them in Shinjuku and often the seedy parts of town.

Well I don't know too much about their history. What I know is that the biggest Yaguza syndicate is the Yamaguchi Gumi and they have around 30,000 members. Thats alot of people. The Yamaguchi Gumi's head quaters are in Kansai.

The second biggest is the Sumiyoshi Rengo and they are based in Tokyo.

Yakuza make money in various ways. Some leagal and others illeagal. They run brothels and other establishment in the sex-enertainment business, gambling casinos, loan money, guarding various establishments and sell drugs.

If you for instance want to open up a store in some place in Japan say a bar. Chances are that you might have to pay a certain sum to the Yakuza.

My take on things is that the police and the Yakuza too are connected. For instance the police will take money from the Yakuza again for them to be able to run their illeagal establishments.

Changing the subject, I asked him what he thought of the police.

That seemed to hit a nerve. He got up excitedly an ran to the window beckoning me to follow. He pointed to a shrine and several shuttered shops. “Do you see those two shops, they were shut down by the police, but see that building attached to the shrine, that is a whorehouse that is allowed to run its business. They pay money to the police, who also get to **** there for free. They have a license that was given to them thanks to a politician. You should write about that, it is a scandal.”

He had a good point。The shrine is owned partially by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The open space in front of the shrine, the fountain, the statue in front of it and the garden are all owned by city. The Shrine building itself is owned by the property owner’s association. They rent out what used to be the shrine’s kura or warehouse, to a brothel. In a way, you could call it mayor Shintaro Ishihara’s whorehouse.


http://benjaminfulford.com/Yauza.html

I have also heard that there is an acceptance of the Yakuza even by the police and politicians in Japan. DUring the US occupation right after WW2 Japan had no protection so alot of the Japanese people and politicians looked for they Yakuza for protection.

I am not a big fan of the Yakuza. And make sure to keep my distance. If you happen to get into an argument or even worse a fight with a wrong person you can get yourself in serious trouble.

Any thoughts?

This video is good to get some kind of insight to the under world of Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRFmzRKvx7I&feature=related

[Turkish41]

interesting post but I believe the Turkish organized crime groups are much more powerful than Yakuza.For example Mr.Baybashin was controlling the heroin sell in all uk.right know he is in dutch prison but still very effective.

[scorpion da black]

wow the yakuza..i love them
they are like the modern samurai

" you disobey me..cut your pinky "

[centrajapan]

Police search Yamaguchi-gumi over fatal shooting of rival gangster
Police on Monday searched the headquarters of the nation's largest crime syndicate, the Yamaguchi-gumi, in Hyogo Prefecture on suspicion the yakuza group was involved in the killing of a senior member of the rival Sumiyoshi-kai earlier this month.

I think I know about this incident. It was a turf war. The Osaka based Yamaguchi Gumi wanted to break into the market in Tokyo due to the recession hitting harder in Osaka than Tokyo they made an alliance with a yakuza group in Tokyo and Sumiyoshi Kai wanted to keep them out and then hell broke lose.

Scorpion San. I guess Yakuza´s are cool in some aspects about not in others. :relief:

I guess in some cases they can make a community safer but then they ruin it all by selling drugs, amphetamine, human trafficing etc.

I heard Yakuza own the rickshaw business in Asakusa.

[Dutch Baka]

IThe Osaka based Yamaguchi Gumi

Yamaguchi gumi is based in Kobe, Nada-ku and not in Osaka... even though it's pretty close though.

[centrajapan]

My bad. You are correct.:relief:

[turujirou]

im not sure if its true but i heard something about how there was a disaster in japan and the yakuza were the first to aid and that the governemnt or police and stuff took way longer. is this true? please correct me or am i just crazy ><

[suz135]

The yakuza are big in Kobe, some say they run the city.