yakuza, also called bōryokudan or gokudō, Japanese gangsters , members of what are formally called bōryokudan (“violence groups”), or Mafia-like criminal organizations. ... Yakuza adopt samurai-like rituals and often bear elaborate body tattoos.
What does a yakuza do?
The yakuza have been engaged in extortion, money-laundering, prostitution, gambling, trafficking in drugs and weapons, and more sophisticated white-collar crimes . According to a 2014 police report, there were 22,495 organized crime members or those affiliates with gangs arrested that year.
What type of crime do the yakuza do?
The yakuza and its affiliated gangs control drug trafficking in Japan, especially methamphetamine. While many Yakuza syndicates, notably the Yamaguchi-gumi, officially forbid their members from engaging in drug trafficking, some other Yakuza syndicates, notably the Dojin-kai, are heavily involved in it.
Why is yakuza legal in Japan?
Even though the police had attempted to crack-down organized crime, the Yakuza simply diversified their portfolios, allowing them to withstand the pressure of law-enforcements. ... The purpose of the law is to “control the intimidation and violent acts carried out by the boryokudan (violent groups)” (NPA) .
Are yakuza friendly?
The yakuza have done their best to portray a noble image within the public sphere. They dress nicely, are respectful and talk politely – when not trying to make money. Violence for the most part happens between gang branches or non-yakuza gangs within Japan. ... The yakuza are even known to reduce some crime.
Can a foreigner join the yakuza?
A gaijin in the organisation? Straight away, the strangest thing is that a foreigner – a gaijin – gets to become a member of a Yakuza family . Not only that, but Lowell quickly rises to become a member with key responsibilities – at one point he becomes the main boss's bodyguard.
Can yakuza marry?
In terms of how women fit into the patriarchal structure of the Yakuza, Jafé says: “Yakuza aren't more patriarchal than the rest of the country, so most of Yakuza wives have the life of ‘basic' Japanese housewives. ... “Depending on which Yakuza you marry, your role will vary .
What does yakuza mean in English?
The word yakuza (“ good for nothing ”) is believed to have derived from a worthless hand in a Japanese card game similar to baccarat or blackjack: the cards ya-ku-sa (“eight-nine-three”), when added up, give the worst possible total.
What is a yakuza girl?
“By definition, a Yakuza cannot be a woman ,” the French-born image-maker explains over the phone from Tokyo, where she has been living for over five years. “If you are a Yakuza, then you are a man. ... During a matsuri – the Japanese word for “festival” – a man came up to her and invited her for a drink.
What is the yakuza code?
The Yakuza Code of Ethics prohibits anything that may be considered an indecent act , or an act that goes against Ninkyodo (Chivalry). Reasoning – The Yakuza were known as the chivalrous organization of their community. The whole purpose of the Yakuza was to serve their own form of justice.
How rich are the yakuza?
The Yamaguchi-gumi, which Morgan Stanley analyst Robert Feldman once called Japan's second largest private equity group, operates in 44 of Japan's 47 prefectures, with a yearly net revenue at $80 billion , as estimated by Fortune magazine.
Who invented yakuza?
| Kenichi Yamamoto | Died February 4, 1982 (aged 56) |
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How much does a yakuza tattoo cost?
They cost as much as $20,000 , hurt like you wouldn't believe and virtually guarantee pariah status in proper Japanese society. So why in the world would anyone seek such a thing?
Why do yakuza cut off pinky?
The act of cutting off one's pinky is called yubitsume, which literally translates to “finger-shortening” and it's a huge part of Yakuza culture. In the gang, members are expected to cut off their pinky fingers as a show of remorse for an offence that they have previously committed .
Who is the boss of the yakuza?
Kenichi Shinoda (篠田 建市, Shinoda Ken'ichi, born January 25, 1942), also known as Shinobu Tsukasa (司 忍, Tsukasa Shinobu), is a Japanese Yakuza, the sixth and current kumicho (supreme kingpin, or chairman) of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza organization.
Why do the yakuza like to be tattooed?
“The tattoos are crucial to yakuza members,” according to Anton. ... They're instead a “very personal depiction” of a scene from the yakuza member's life , or something symbolically important to them – which is meant to show people the attributes that person is known for.
