Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia Archive News Older Organized Crime News. Organized Crime News - Newshound? get the FREE email digest of Organized Crime news! Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia By Miyuki I. Sundara Anthropology 200, Instructor: Carl Hefner, Ph.D. About a month ago, a Japanese tourist was in the custody of the Immigration Bureau at Honolulu International Airport. He did not do anything wrong or carry any drugs. However, the little finger of his left hand was missing. He was a former member of the y akuza, the Japanese mafia. The Bureau contacted the Japanese police to check the man's record. You can enter America even if you have a criminal record provided you notify the American embassy in Japan of the fact. Because he didn't want to tell anybody a bout his past, he came to Hawai`i without a visa, like a regular Japanese tourist. However, the Bureau didn't permit him to enter the country because he had hidden his criminal record. They sent him back to Japan the next day. Why is the yakuza so famous?

Several years ago in Japan, a woman who passed by one of the main offices of the yakuza on her way to the shopping mall was accidentally shot and killed by one of their members. This kind of incident happens all over Japan. The yakuza's battles have killed many innocent people who are completely unrelated to the yakuza. Most Japanese hate the existence of the yakuza, and the government there has been trying to eliminate them. Thus far, it has proved impossible because their power is very strong and far reaching, and the yakuza society itself continues to grow. They make money from unlawful trade and business, and use the money to collect weapons to protect themselves from their enemies. Most of the information obtained for this article comes fr om a former member of the yakuza. He was eighteen years old when he entered one of the biggest yakuza societies in Kobe. He retired fifteen years later, when he was thirty three years old, because he realized how much his occupation was hurting his chil dren. One day, his daughter was given an assignment to write about her father's occupation. When she asked him, he could not tell her that he was the member of the yakuza, so he lied to her.

He felt much shame about what he was doing. Finally, he decide d to retire from the yakuza. Most of the stories in this article are from his experiences during those fifteen years. When I first tried to interview this former yakuza member, he was unwilling. His boss had allowed him to retire on the condition that he not talk to anyone about the group. When he asked about the actual purpose of this paper, I explained that the yakuza had interesting customs which other organized crime syndicates don't have. Also, I explained that it would be interesting to tell Ame rican people about the yakuza from the Japanese point of view. He understood, and agreed to be my informant. It took about ten days to finish the interview. He also wrote a letter which gave the reasons behind the current battle between two famous groups. Fictitious names have been used to keep the real identities secret. The yakuza is an all men's society. They do not trust women. The only visible woman in the group is the boss' wife, called ane-san. Ane-san means "older sister." All members g ive her the same respect as the boss because she is his wife.

However, she does not get involved in the business. Her position in the group is the boss' wife, and not a member of a group. The yakuza do not trust women because they believe that women ar e weak. They believe that women cannot fight like men, that women are not born to fight. To a yakuza member, the most important thing is courage. If there is a battle, you must be ready to fight to the death, rather than lose the battle. Yakuza members must be willing to die for their boss. They feel women are born to be mothers and to take care of their husbands. This may sound old-fashioned, but all yakuza members believe that women should stay home and take care of the children and not meddle in men's business. Another reason the yakuza do not allow women in their organization is that no one can talk about the group to outsiders. The yakuza do not believe that women are strong enough to keep silent if interrogated by the police or their ene mies. If anyone speak out, that will be the end of the group. For all of these reasons, the yakuza are a man's society.

The yakuza have their own unique way of apologizing when they make a mistake, or do something wrong. It is called "Yubizume. " Yubizume is the act of cutting off their little finger and giving it to the person they are apologizing to. This happened to one of the informant's younger members in the group. He fell in love with the daughter of his boss, which is forbidden withou t the boss' permission. They secretly met each other without anyone knowing. They wanted to get married, but they knew that the boss would be against their marriage. Moreover, the boy knew that the boss might kill him because he had broken one of the ya kuza's rules. Eventually they decided to run away, but they were found by one of the members and brought back to the base after two days. The daughter was just scolded by her father, but the young man was commanded to apologize to the boss the yakuza way. The informant, who was the senior in the group, brought a knife and white string and put them in front of the young man. The young man knew what was expected of him; he did not waver at all.

He picked up the knife, held one end of the string between his teeth while holding the other end with his right hand, and tied it around the little finger of his left hand. He took a deep breath, and chopped off the tip of his little finger with the knife. Then, he wrapped the finger tip in a towel and gave it to his boss. The boss did not say anything to the young man, which meant that the boss accepted the his apology. However, the young man was forced to leave the group. Whoever betrays the boss has to leave the yakuza society. In the yakuza society, if a m ember is jailed for any reason, he gains prestige when he is released from police custody. The informant joined the yakuza right after he graduated from high school. He did not have any power, as he was just a kid. When he was twenty years old, he was wo rking at the bar which the group owned. There was a small room for gambling in the back. Somehow the police found out and raided the bar. The police arrested two customers who were gambling and also two waitresses. The informant and a senior member, who w as the manager of the bar and gambling room, escaped.

The police knew the yakuza owned the bar, and went to that group's base to see the boss. They told him that they had raided the bar, but some of his members had escaped, and the police wanted them. T he boss contacted the senior member and the informant to the base. He told them that the police had commanded him to send the man who was in charge of the gambling to the station. He added that he could not send the senior man to the police because nobody else could run the gambling. The informant understood what the boss wanted, and so turned himself in to the police. He was jailed for two years, but he became one of the seniors when he came out. The yakuza mainly make their living through unlawful b usinesses, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and loan-sharking. Most of the money comes from gambling, most often from dice games. Each group has its own gambling room, which is usually behind a bar or restaurant. Food and drinks are served, but th e main purpose is gambling. The gamblers are chosen by the group. If they do not know them, they cannot gamble. The yakuza do not want the police to know about their business.

There are several kinds of dice games. The most popular game is cho ka han ka which means odds or evens. The game is very simple, two dice are jiggled in a black bamboo cup and put on a tatami (Japanese mat). Next, all the gamblers bet on either odds or evens, and put the stakes on the tatami at the same time. Th e die thrower then says, "That's all, gentlemen," and everybody has to take their hands away from the cash. Then he says "Play," in a low voice. At that time, he opens the bamboo cup and announces either "chou" or "han." The stakes in this game are very h igh. If the gamblers are all yakuza, they can bet at least ten thousand dollars for one play. Sometimes they make more than a million dollars a day. In a traditional dice game, all gamblers are expected to be professional. When the gamblers come into a room, they do not speak. The only thing that is heard is the sound of money being put down. Even though this is an old style of gambling, many groups still play this game because all the yakuza like to follow the traditional way.

The yakuza also make money from prostitution. They hire young girls whose are younger than eighteen years old. There are many ways to make a profit from this business, but the most popular one is the "date club." Some groups make more than a million dollars a month from this business. The date club is a men's club. There is a membership fee of at least one thousand dollars to join. Most of the customers are the rich middle-aged men, such as doctors, lawyers, and company presidents. Club members are shown young girls' pictu res to choose from, and a date with the chosen girl is arranged. The men then have to pay a fee of about two hundred dollars for the date, and all expenses. After the date, the customer calls the club and tells them whether they liked the girl, and wheth er or not they would like another date. To have sex with the girl can cost at least one thousand dollars. The hiring of high school students as prostitutes is against the law. However, some high school students are willing to work as prostitutes as they can earn much more money than from any other part-time job. Most of the money that the yakuza make is spent on the purchase of weapons.

Each group has its own territory. The territory is very important to the yakuza. When they do business, they cannot break into each other group's territory. If one group tries to break into another's territory it must be protected, usually through violence. In Japan, the general public cannot have a weapon without a permit, but the yakuza do not respect the law. Many citizens become victims of the yakuza's battles. When they are fighting, each group tries to kill the boss of the other group, because a group without a boss is weak and has no power to fight. For all members, the boss is God. Without him, they cann ot do anything. Whoever wins the battle takes over the group that lost and their territory. From these battles, one group named Yamada gumi became the biggest yakuza group in Japan. About fifty years ago, this group was small with only eighty members. Now they number over ten thousand. It was very hard for the third boss to control an organization that big, but he was a very strong man, and all the members respected him. Under the boss were eight seniors who had their own groups, which were part of Yamada gumi.

Although the seniors respected the boss, the relationship between each other was not good. They were all ambitious men who wanted to become the fourth Yamada gumi boss. The third boss knew that the seniors would fight after his death if he did not decide who would be the fourth boss. The boss picked a man named Shindo. Compared to the other seniors, Shindo was older and able to control the other members. All the seniors agreed with the third boss's decision. At that time, Shindo was se rving a two-year sentence for gambling. One year after the boss announced his decision, he died of heart disease. Shindo was still in prison. The other seniors and ane-san (the boss' wife), had a meeting about who would substitute for Shindo until he was released. Ane-san decided to be the substitute until Shindo was released. As mentioned, women are not allowed to be members of the yakuza, but this was an emergency, and her decision was respected by all the members as she was the wife of the former boss. None of the seniors were against ane-san's idea.

However, she did not know how to manage a group of that size, so she picked a senior, Kondo, to be her assistant. This was a mistake. The other seniors did not like her decision because Kondo beca me the nearest man to the next boss. Ane-san had the authority to decide everything about the group, but the assistant was the one who made all the proposals to the management. In their minds, the assistant was more important than ane-san because he could make any proposal he wanted. Kondo was an aggressive and smart man, so he called two seniors and persuaded them into helping him. The two were Yoshida and Kawasaki. Although both of them wanted to be the next boss, they did not have the power to fight fo r that. They decided to take the side of Kondo and help him. Unexpectedly, Shindo died in jail. Ane-san strongly recommended Kondo, her assistant, but four seniors did not agree with her. Tada, the oldest senior, said that he would fight if he could not be the next boss. The other three seniors backed him up. Tada formed a new group with other three seniors.

He named the group Eishin kai, Yamada gumi was now divided. Kondo finally became the fourth boss of Yamada gumi. He wanted to get all Eishi n kai's members back to Yamada gumi. Tada however, wanted to make Eishin kai the biggest yakuza group in Japan. Both of them wanted to be the boss of the biggest yakuza group. This started a bloody battle. Both groups had many subsidiary groups. These subsidiary groups started to fight all over Japan. At least ten members were killed. Ane-san tried to stop both Kondo and Tada from fighting, but it did not help. She did not have power anymore. One of the Eishin kai subsidiary bosses was ordered to k ill Kondo, which they did outside his condominium. Yoshida who was the senior of Yamada gumi took Kondo's place and became the fifth boss of the group. However, the battle between Yamadagumi and Eishin kai was not over. The informant told me that it was impossible for them to settle their disputes because neither of them wanted to compromise. In this particular battle, at least three citizens were killed by the yakuza.

It is easy to see why the yakuza are so famous in many countries, and feared and ha ted by many people. The yakuza do not follow the law. They also have illegal businesses, and have had many battles which have killed innocent citizens. This continues to be one of the biggest social problems in Japan. Site contact: 10 Odd Facts About The Yakuza - Listverse 10 Odd Facts About The Yakuza Alan Boyle October 23, 2013 The yakuza are Japan’s organized crime syndicates, like the triads in other parts of Asia or the mafia in the West. Yet the operations and social roles of the yakuza are very different to other criminal organizations. In fact, the yakuza are almost mainstream. They have office buildings and their gossip features in Japanese popular press. Many English speakers will have learned what they know of the yakuza from Jason Statham films and Grand Theft Auto, so here are 10 facts that paint a more rounded, if unusual, portrait of the gangs. 10Sokaiya Sokaiya is the name of a form of large-scale bribery practiced by the yakuza.

First, they buy shares in a company, just enough to get them a place at a shareholders meeting. Then they dig up as much dirt as they can on the company leadership. After that, it’s a case of “give us money, or we’ll come to the meeting and embarrass you.” The Japanese fear shame above much else, so this tactic usually works. What is peculiar about this scam is that it is carried out with the utmost politeness. The threats are made in a roundabout way, as are the pay-offs . The yakuza will host an event—a golf tournament or beauty pageant, for example—and sell awfully overpriced tickets to the victims of their blackmail. Some of Japan’s largest companies have been targeted. One racketeer received eight months in prison after targeting executives from Mitsubishi for illegitimate rent payments on a holiday home. By 1982, sokaiya had reached such endemic proportions that Japan introduced laws making it illegal for corporations to pay the blackmailers off. Unfortunately, the law did little but make the yakuza more sophisticated in hiding the scheme. The police are prone to leaking secrets, so reporting the sokaiya may result in the original blackmail information getting out anyway.

Managers would also have to put up with yakuza out for revenge, and possibly face prosecution if they have paid off sokaiya in the past. The most effective tactic so far has been to align shareholder meetings , as the gangsters can only be in so many places at once. Up to 90 percent of corporations on the Tokyo Stock Exchange hold their annual shareholder meetings on the same day. 9Yakuza Crackdown Yamaguchi-gumi is Japan’s largest yakuza syndicate. Recently, it has been the target of sanctions by the US government, in a crackdown on organized crime. American citizens are no longer allowed to make transactions with the leader, Kenichi Shinoda (who came in at number seven in our list of the world’s top crime bosses). Second in command Kiyoshi Takayama is also blacklisted, and the US government has frozen all of their American assets. The move follows laws in Japan aimed at severing the ties between yakuza and legitimate businesses. Previous Japanese attempts to reduce the yakuza have included introducing fines for businesses that willingly associate with the gangsters. These efforts seem to be working—membership is at a 50-year low and part-timers have begun to outnumber full members.

Shinoda has spoken out on the issue, saying that getting rid of the gangs would leave thousands of dangerous, dispossessed criminals: “If the Yamaguchi-gumi were to be disbanded, public order would deteriorate immediately.” 8Yakuza Relief Efforts When the Japanese tsunami hit in 2011, the yakuza were among the first to head to the affected areas with aid. This is not without precedent—in 1995 when an earthquake hit Kobe, Japan’s fifth-largest city, the yakuza used scooters, boats, and a helicopter to deliver supplies around the clogged streets. Some people say the yakuza help in times of need because they are made up of outcasts, and sympathize with people struggling to get by with no help from the authorities. Others are more cynical, suggesting the moves are about public relations. It’s harder for the police to get support for a yakuza crackdown following a great display of charity. There are also potential financial gains to be had for the yakuza. A few months after the 2011 quake, yakuza organizations were vying for construction contracts from the government.

The scale of the disaster and the repair work required made it almost impossible for police to keep yakuza out of the clean-up effort, especially since they often operate front companies indistinguishable from legitimate businesses. One contract that found its way into yakuza hands resulted in a jail term for the senior member behind it. He had been skimming funds and underpaying workers for profit, suggesting the gangs’ critics may have been onto something. 7Yakuza Magazine Earlier this year, Yamaguchi-gumi distributed a newsletter to its almost 28,000 members. Named Yamaguchi-gumi Shinpo, the magazine included haikus and articles on angling . An editorial from the gang’s leader talks about difficult times for the organization. Yakuza numbers have been falling, and the magazine was seen as a way to boost morale. The magazine came on the heels of a bloody turf war that left civilians dead. A yakuza expert suggests that, despite only sending the magazine to full members, they knew news of it would leak out. He argues that creating a cultured magazine was designed to project a sophisticated image , in order to distance the Yamaguchi-gumi from violence in the public consciousness.

6Yubitsume Yakuza members who do something they shouldn’t are forced to atone in a brutal way—by chopping off part of their own finger. They start with the tip of their pinkie, but further transgressions require further mutilation. This is known as yubitsume. As a result, many gang members are missing most or all of their left little finger, as well as some others. This has led to a high demand for synthetic digits . People who leave the yakuza face stigma in other parts of society and their missing fingers are hard to hide. One skin expert from the UK, Professor Alan Roberts , exported enough lifelike prosthetics to earn the nickname “Mr. Fingers” from former Japanese gang members. 5Tattoos One of the most iconic images of the yakuza is their intricate, full-body tattoo art . These use a traditional method of manually inserting ink under the skin, known as irezumi. They are seen as a mark of a person’s bravery due to the pain the method inflicts . In recent years, the number of non-yakuza getting this style of tattoo has increased significantly . Popular designs include dragons, mountains, and women.

Despite this widening trend of tattoos among non-yakuza, they still carry a significant stigma in Japanese society. The mayor of Osaka instituted a ban on government workers with tattoos, telling them to either have their ink removed, or leave and find a job in the private sector. 4Suing The Yakuza (And The Yakuza Suing Back) Earlier this year, a Japanese restaurant owner began the process of suing Kenichi Shinoda, the extremely dangerous head of Yamaguchi-gumi we mentioned earlier. She claims that Shinoda has “employer’s liability” for gangsters that demanded protection money and threatened to burn down her bar if she didn’t cough up. She is claiming damages of 17 million yen, around $2.8 million. She is not the first person to sue the yakuza. In 2008, a group of residents sued to evict the Dojinkai gang from their headquarters in the city of Kurume. The group had split following an argument over leadership, leading to a violent war between the two sides. The residents argued they deserved to be able to live in peace, and so wanted the gangs gone from the city.

But the yakuza aren’t always on the receiving end of a lawsuit. At the start of this year, the Kudo-kai, a yakuza syndicate in the south of Japan, were labeled “dangerous” by law enforcement. They had been linked to a series of grenade attacks on rival gangs. Their lawyer argued the label infringed on the group unfairly (they were the only one of the area’s five gangs to receive it) and that it was a violation of the Japanese constitution. 3Exams In 2009, the Yamaguchi-gumi created a 12-page exam for its members. The move came after the government passed harsher laws against organized crime. The test was the group’s attempt to keep its members from getting into trouble by making sure they were clued up on the law. It covered topics from dumping industrial waste to vehicle theft . While the thought of tattooed gangsters sitting in an exam hall after a day of cramming may be little more than an amusing image for Westerners, the introduction of the test tells a story about Japan’s economy as a whole . The yakuza have long been a barometer of the Japanese economy.

If the gangsters are finding times difficult, and doing what they can to minimize losses, then it means everyone else is in the same position. 2Initiation Ritual New recruits to a yakuza organization are required to take a subservient role to one of the more experienced members. This is called kobun, literally “child role.” Yakuza have a complex leadership structure, and there are many layers one must progress through to reach the top. The initiation ritual for a new recruit is a ceremony based around sake, known as sakazukigoto . The initiate sits opposite his oyabun, or “father role,” while the drink is prepared by other members. The newcomer gets a smaller portion while his sponsor’s cup is filled to the brim, a reflection of their status. Each drinks from their own cup, before swapping and taking another drink, at which point the ceremony is complete. This represents the creation of what is almost an adoptive father–son bond between the kobun and oyabun. Drinking of sake is a common ceremony to represent the creation of a bond in Japanese culture.

Sake was seen as a bond between man and the gods, formed from the blessing of a good harvest, and this same bond could cement the relationship between people . Couples sip sake at their weddings to represent their coming together. This historical link gives the yakuza ceremony a religious significance , so it is often performed at a Japanese Shinto shrine. 1Yakuza In Politics In 2012, Japan’s justice minister, Keishu Tanaka, was forced to resign his post when it came to light that he had links to yakuza. Yet having these links has not always been so damaging for Japanese politicians. The Liberal Democrat Party, which has ruled Japan for 54 of the last 58 years, has extensively documented links to the yakuza. The first LDP Prime Minister, Nobusuke Kishi, was heavily involved with Yamaguchi-gumi. In 1971, he, along with other politicians, provided bail for a Yamaguchi-gumi leader convicted of murder. He also attended yakuza funerals and weddings. Yakuza members operate as campaign workers and bodyguards during elections.

In addition, yakuza gangs are able to guarantee a certain number of votes for their favorite candidate. The chairman of a yakuza gang in Kyoto boasted he provided 30,000 votes to elect a particular governor. At least four other Prime Ministers have been linked to yakuza, most notably Noboru Takeshita, who came to power in 1987. Facing harassment from far-right opponents prior to the election, he turned to Tokyo’s largest yakuza group, Inagawa-kai. They made the problem go away, but it ultimately opened a can of worms that exposed just how comfortable Japan’s ruling elite were with organized crime. Alan is an aspiring writer trying to kick-start his career with an awesome beard and an addiction to coffee. You can read some of his non-list writing at skepticalnumber.com or you can email him . More Great Lists The Yakuza The Yakuza Background In Japan, organized crime and criminals come under the general heading of Yakuza. According to tradition, the name is derived from the worst possible score in a Japanese card game. It comes from Japan's counterpart to Black Jack, Oicho- Kabu.

The general difference between the cardgames is that in Oicho- Kabu is that a winning total of the cards is 19 instead of 21. As you see, the sum of 8, 9 and 3, is 20, which is over in Oicho-Kabu. In a hand resulting in a score of 20, the worst possible score, a player's final score would be zero. Among the losing combinations, the phonetic sound of an 8-9-3 sequence is ya - ku - sa. It's from there the name, yakuza is derived... without worth to society. This doesn't mean that they have no use for the society, it means that the members are people that somehow do not fit in the society, in other words societies misfits. The Yakuza were itinerant gamblers, peddlers, renegade warriors and roving bandits. They served shoguns and municipalities and their legend includes a distinct Robin Hood quality that recently emerged during the recent Kobe Earthquake. The Yamaguchi-gumi Yakuza clan quickly mobilized providing on the scene assistance to Kobe's earthquake victims long before the national government resolved to act.

Yakuza form a central theme in Japan's popular culture and trace their origins to at least the 17th century. Therefore, among the world's criminal organizations the Yakuza are older than the Sicilian Mafia. Yakuza strength rises and falls according to the tides of Japanese society, with estimates of core membership ranging from 80,000 to more than 110,000 in the years from 1945 to 1996. Some authorities believe Japan's National Police routinely undercount the Yakuza, numbering only those names found in confiscated membership rolls, or recorded from routine police intelligence reports. Like the Sicilian Mafia and other underworld organizations, the Yakuza are formed into families, but in Japan other distinctions emerge including that of the oyabun - kobun (father role - child role) relationship, between Yakuza chiefs and their underlings. The Yakuza evolved into their current form late in the 19th-century under figures like Toyama Mitsuru. This son of a Samurai founded the Genyosha (Dark Ocean) Society, and later Toyama's top aide Ryohei Uchida founded the Amur River Society (Black Dragons).

Like organized crime in other cultures, the Yakuza began to control construction labor and dockside labor, adding to traditional areas of enterprise in the vices, prostitution, gambling, liquor distribution, and entertainment. In the late 1960s or early 1970s the Yakuza moved into the lucrative narcotics trade and in recent years have stepped up their trade in firearms and other contraband. According to various sources, Yakuza have formed alliances and working relationships with Chinese Triads, Sicilian and American Mafia, Columbian drug cartels, Jamaican Posses, and assorted other criminal organizations throughout the world. Because of their unique role in Japan's history and popular culture, and their usefulness in providing muscle to control labor unions, and providing anonymous services to the public for a variety of typical underworld products in vice and contraband accommodations between Yakuza, police, ultranationalists, government, political parties, and secret societies seems to be an accepted fact of life in Japan. Yakuza are active worldwide, wherever criminal enterprises flourish. The Yakuza have been very skillful in the employment of intermediaries and the absence of Japanese within a community does not mean an absence of Yakuza.

Kabuki-Mono Yakuzas origin can be followed far back as to the year 1612, when men known as kabuki-mono (the crazy ones). Their odd clothing style, the distinct haircuts and bad behavior, longswords quickly got everybody's attention. They were known as masterless samurais, ronin, and several of them began to wander around in Japan as a band of robbers, plundering villages and small cities. Machi-Yakko Yakuza however not see kabuki-mono as their "ancestors" instead they feel that they are machi-yakko(City servant), Machi-yakko became the people's heroes, praised by the citizens for their help against kabuki-mono. The Machi-yakko were often weaker, far less trained and equipped than kabuki- mono. Therfore they were compared with England's Robin Hood. Kabuki-mono were known for their ruthless behavior and terrorizing all the surrounding areas. They were well known for stabbing people for pleasure. Kabukimono were gave their groups scary names and spoke in vulgar slang.

The current yakuza did not evolve until about the middle of the 17th century. Its members were bakuto (gamblers) and tekiya (street vendors). Something that was remarkable were their loyalty to each other. They protected each other regardless even if it meant going against their own family. Kabuki-mono generally came from shoguns or samurais whom during long peaceful times were forced into unemployment. Almost all yakuza have the same type of background poor, criminals and misfits. The Yakuza became a family for them. They got help with problems, got attention and could feel a certain saftey. The Industrialization of Japan When Japan began to industrialize, the yakuza followed Japan's deploying society. They began to recruit employees within the construction business and people working at the docksides. They began to check the rickshaw business. The gambling side of the Yakuza was at this time sorta put to the side, because the police were cracking down roughly on the bakuto- gangs. Tekiya on the contrary flowered and expanded since most of their activities were not considered illegal but more importantly not on the surface of society.

Yakuza began to develop an interest for policy and started affiliations with certain political officials. They began to cooperate with the authorities in order to get certain contributions and to ease the harassment from the authorities. About up until the year 1925 Japan had an Emperor. But the course of events in the world was proving that a democratic rule was better than aristocratic, therefore Japan initiated a public vote for all men 1925. Within a few years the communist and socialist parties were found. Around then the prince, that became emperor 1926, existed however his staff of military and some other officials did not agreed with democracy. The economical depression at the end of 20th century created suspicion against the western worlds liberalism. They took advantage of this and different secret organizations were created that trained its members in warfare, languages, assassination, blackmail etc. The ultranationalism terror lasted on into the 1930s. They murdered two prime ministers, two finance ministers, attacked several politicians, and industrialist. The Yakuza supplied them with the muscles and men in order to help and train these underworld organization. This type of yakuza is called the unyoke (political right).

The Occupation Years After WWII when the American troops occupied Japan they saw the yakuza as the biggest threat against their forces. They began to watch the yakuza's activities. The American troops rationed out food and as a result the black market flowered and made the gangs rich and powerful. It were during the occupations that a new sort of yakuza began to grow, gurentai (street hustler). They were for the most part involved in robbery and black market. Yakuza became influenced by the American gangster movies and began to dress in black suits with white shirts, black sunglasses and cropped hair. They became tougher and more violent, the sword became history, now it was firearms. It was about this time that not just gamblers and storekeepers became exposed to violence but also the ordinary person was becoming more of a victim. Between about the years of 1958 and 1963 the number of yakuza- members increased with over 150%, to 184,000 members, now are they well below that. There are an estimated 5,200 different gangs in Japan. Also during that time they began to mark out their territories and wars started between the gangs.

It is believed that the wars between the gangs were settled by a man named Yoshio Kodama. Kodama was Japan's underworld counterpart to America's Al Capone. The Yakuza Organization For the yakuza it doesn't matter were you came from, which country or from which class of society you belonged to, you can become a member anyway. Yakuza takes care of the misfits in the society. Yakuza members can be youth that been abandoned by their parents, youths seeking refuge from the high pressures of school, refugees from Korea, China etc. The boss becomes their father and their comrades as brothers. The Yakuza offers not only companionship but also money, status, and authority. A part of a group were you feel useful and needed. There are no thresholds or requirements in order to become a member. But when you are inside strict obedience to the superiors is demanded. The yakuza sees himself, as Machi-yakko, the people's rescuer and helper. Far before any working courts existed in Japan the yakuza existed. If your clans chief couldn't or wouldn't help resolve a dispute you could turn to the local yakuza for help. They solved the problem in return for money.

The solution however was more brutal than if you had turned to the police. The yakuza structure exists in two types of yakuza, clan yakuza and freelance yakuza. Freelance Yakuza< Freelancing yakuza are generally wanna be's yakuza that don't commit serious crimes and they are usually little more than a group of hustlers. They have however some difficulties surviving since the clan yakuza do not afford them any protection or assistance and generally doesn't allow them to operate within their territories. Clan yakuza can tip the police about crimes that the freelance yakuza commit. If the freelance yakuza earns to much money, the clan yakuza kills the freelancing yakuza or makes him disappear without a trace. The clan yakuza however have certain uses for a freelance yakuza. If the clan yakuza needs something done that they not want the clan to be associate with, they can turn to a freelancing yakuza that, for a sum of money, does the job for them. A freelance yakuza can also be used as a scapegoat for crimes. A freelancer is truly a genius if he can manage to begin his own clan and stay alive.

Usually a freelance yakuza becomes a clan member unless he gets killed. Clan Yakuza The clan have been compared to the Sicilian mafias "family". The clan is structured much like a common family in traditional Japan. The clan has a hierarchy structure. The clans head chief is called Oyabun, that means Father. Beneath him he has his children(Wakashu) and brothers(Kyodai). These are not his real children and brothers, only designations of rank and position they have within the clan. All the members in the clan obey the Oyabun and in return he protects them against all dangers. Oyabun is almighty within the clan and his words is the law. All obey him without hesitation or concern for their own life. Beneath him, oyabun has an adviser that is called Saiko-komon and he has a staff of advocates, accountants, secretaries and advisers. The children's (Wakashu) boss called Waka gashira. He is number two in the clan after Oyabun, not in rank but in authority. He acts as a middleman to see that the oyabun's orders are being accomplished.

The children leaders over their own (sub) gangs and over time can move up in the structure. In that way the clan becomes a ramification with several sub families. The oyabun's "brothers" or Kyodai, boss is called Shatei gashira. Shatei gashira is of higher rank than Waka gashira but doesn't have more authority. "The Brothers" have their own "children" or "younger brothers"(Shatei). Shatei, has its own sub gangs etc. Everyone obeys its gangleader, but it's always the oyabun's word that counts. Tattoos It's usual within yakuza circuits to tattoo themselves, usually is it their clan's badges that they have all over their body. The origin of the yakuza tattoo comes from the Bakuto. They usually tattooed a black ring around the arm for each crime they committed. Finally it became a symbol of strength. It can take over 100 hours to do an entire back tattoo. The tattoo was to illustrate you were unwilling to accommodate yourself to societies rules and norms. Now is it to illustrate your clan affiliations. Yubitsume The manner comes originally from the Bakuto.

If a gambler couldn't pay back a debt or something like that the persons tip of the little finger got cut off, which damage the hand and the person could not hold his sword as well as before. Also that way other people could see if a person haven't paid a debt, which could bring certain problems, since gambling always been prohibited in Japan. Yubitsume is when you cut of one of your fingers and send it to the Kumicho. This is done as an apology for disobedience. It can be done to atone for a wrongdoing but can also be done to spare one of your "children". When you have done something that your Kumicho dislikes you take a sharp item, cut off a fingertip, wrap it in paper and send it to the Kumicho and beg for his forgiveness. If it's the first time you cut off the little fingertip there after it becomes the next little finger and so on. Because of that you may see yakuza members that are without several of his fingers. This helps often at wrongdoings, but if you've done something all to seriously, as e.g betray the entire clan, thereï¿½s nothing that can help you from becoming a statistic.

NOTE: Reprinted from "Okinawa Japan Virtual Ginza Your Door to Okinawa Japan". Available on-line at Virtual Ginza is an excellent source of all things Okinawan 14 most notorious mafias in the world - Matador Network 14 most notorious mafias in the world by Abigail Fox May 15, 2014 Despite what Hollywood says, organized crime is a lot more about maintaining a smoothly functioning illegal global economy than it is about explosions and cement overshoes. Its top money-making industries are drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling migrants, illegal firearms, and weapons, trafficking in natural resources (like diamonds), illegal trade in wildlife (including poaching), the sale of fraudulent medicines, and cybercrime. So where and who are the world’s most notorious mafias? 1 Yakuza Also known as Gokudo, these Japanese and Korean organized crime syndicates are almost mainstream. They have office buildings, business cards, and frequently show up in gossip columns of newspapers.

Identifiable by their black suits and the missing tips of their little fingers (lopping them off to show contrition to your boss is known as yubitsume), Yakuza are often involved in politics and corporate boards of directors. They were also among the first to respond with relief efforts after the 2011 tsunami. 2 18th Street Gang Also known as the Children's Army because they recruited elementary and middle school children, the 18th Street Gang (or M-18) is one of the largest gangs in the Northern Hemisphere. They are said to have a membership of more than 30,000 in the US alone, with a home base in Los Angeles. One of their rival organizations is MS-13 (further down this list), and they are known to have connections to the Mexican cartels and some smaller Central American crime rings. 3 Mungiki A terrifying group that is part terrorist organization and part religion, Mungiki (which means "multitude" in Kikuyu) favours rejection of all Westernization and a return to traditional values.

While they are currently active only in Kenya, they run extortion rackets in the slums of Nairobi and control the taxi industry, beheading and mutilating anyone who crosses them...sometimes also lighting them on fire. The police in Kenya often treat Mungiki suspects to violent retributive behaviour. 4 Russian Mafia Now officially the scariest organized crime group, a former FBI Special Agent called the Russian Mafia “the most dangerous people on earth.” They may have as many as 300,000 members across 450 groups, and are well known for having elaborate and hierarchical tattoos. They frequently use military tactics, and their most common activities are terrorism, organ trafficking, and contract killing. 5 Hells Angels Considered an organized crime syndicate by the US State Department, the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is best known for riding Harley Davidsons and having an almost mythical history of crime attributed to them. The official policy of the club is that they are motorcycle enthusiasts and any crimes committed are the fault of individual members, not club policy; pop culture, such as the 1966 film The Wild Angels, depicts them as ruthless, violent criminals. Members of the gang have been associated with drug trafficking, sex work rings, and extortion.

6 Sicilian Mafia: La Cosa Nostra Despite being a young mafia (it started in the second half of the 19th century), the Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra ("Our Thing") rapidly became the most feared organized crime group wherever they settled. Strictly family-based and hierarchical, the group is very ritualized and has elaborate initiation ceremonies that are open only to Sicilian men. They follow omertà, a code of silence and secrecy; failing to do so results in execution. 7 Albanian Mob There are over 15 clans that control the bulk of Albanian organized crime. The highly organized and rigid structure of their mostly family-based system has resulted in Albanian mafia cells spreading globally, with a focus on drug trafficking, human trafficking, and arms dealing. They are quick to violence and one of the godfathers, Daut Kadriovski, has been identified as the biggest heroin dealer in Europe. 8 Serbian Mafia Composed of multiple groups in Serbia and the Serbian diaspora, the mafia was seen by many Serbs as a way out of the crushing economic aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars.

With active cells in 20-30 countries, the organization is best known for drug trafficking and gun-running, although several Serbian bosses in Madrid made headlines in 2009 when they killed and ate a recalcitrant member after running him through a meat grinder. 9 Montreal Mafia: The Rizzutos The Rizzuto family organized crime syndicate is mostly based in Montreal, but spreads across southern Quebec and Ontario. They built up connections to New York's Bonanno family (part of the notorious "Five Families" of the US Cosa Nostra), which eventually led to a vicious mafia war in Montreal in the late 1970s. The senior levels of the family were decimated first by a police sting and then by numerous assassinations, leaving a power vacuum. The Rizzuto family owns most of Montreal's construction contracting. 10 Mexican drug cartels Although the Mexican drug trafficking organizations have existed for decades, they rose to greater power with the demise of the Medellin and Cali Colombian cartels. Drug trafficking now makes up approximately 63% of Mexico's economy, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.

The "war on drugs" has resulted in dangerous and violent retaliation from the cartels; more than 20,000 people have disappeared, and an investigation into mass graves found a staggering 24,000 corpses. Rape, kidnap, and torture are endemic, and cartel members are often armed with military-grade weapons, like rocket launchers and the ubiquitous AK-47s. 11 Mara Salvatrucha Often shortened to MS-13, this gang of mostly Central Americans is based in Los Angeles, although they have spread to elsewhere in North America and Mexico. They are notoriously violent, and were recruited by the Sinaloa cartel to help with enforcement. The gang is reported to have over 50,000 members, who are distinguished by their large tattoos, often on the face and chest, and their distinctive hand signs. 12 Colombian drug cartels Until 2011, Colombia was the world's top cocaine producer, but a strong anti-narcotic campaign has resulted in the dismantling of many of the most dangerous producers, such as the Medellin and Cali cartels. At their peak, these cartels hired engineering experts from Russia and the US to help with their trafficking.

The disappearance of the larger groups left Colombia's organized crime landscape fractured and vulnerable to manipulation and attack by guerrilla groups and both Colombian and US governments. 13 Chinese Triads Triads are a loose name for Chinese organized crime groups, who received the name from British authorities as a reference to the triangular symbol they use (the character "hung" inside a triangle). The US government estimates they smuggle up to 100,000 undocumented people into the country every year, and they are also particularly active in counterfeiting money. The hub for Triad activity is Hong Kong. 14 D-Company This group based in India, Pakistan, and the UAE is led by Dawood Ibrahim, an internationally wanted man (and Bollywood star) whose activities go from extortion up to terrorist acts like the 1993 Bombay bombings, which killed 257 people and injured over 700. Ibrahim is said to have ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and D-Company is funded with billions of dollars from legitimate businesses (including real estate and banking) as well as illegal activities. Currently on the run, Ibrahim is said to have undergone extensive plastic surgery.

Japanese mafia tattoos paraded at festival - YouTube Japanese mafia tattoos paraded at festival Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on May 26, 2013 The laws targeting them have been beefed up, but that doesn't stop members of the Japanese mafia -- or Yakuza -- from showing off their distinctive tattoos at an annual religious festival in downtown Tokyo.Duration: 01:55 Category Urban Dictionary: Yakuza Yakuza A Japanese organized crime syndicate, similar to the Mafia, or the Triads. They have some control of the Japanese social system, seeing as they own major things like casinos and the like. They have a strict code of loyalty and honor, which is a tradition long held by the Japanese. Yakuza are usually known to have large tattoos covering their backs, chests, and arms. They are also made famous by pop culture, an example being gangster flicks done by the famous Japanese director, Takeshi Kitano.

Also, the whole cutting off of a fingertip is done by those who have angered the Yakuza as a plea for forgivness. THe name Yakuza translates roughly to 8-9-3, one of the worst hands you can get in Japanese Blackjack, where the goal is 19 instead of 21. The Yakuza is a tough, powerful criminal organizations. Yakuza Yakuza (also known as gokudo) are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The term Yakuza comes from a Japanese game, Oicho-Kabu (played with hanafuda or kabufuda cards). The worst hand in the game is a set of eight, nine and three. In traditional Japanese forms of counting, these numbers are called Ya, Ku and Sa, 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 best luck in order to win. The name was also used because it signified bad fortune, presumably for anyone who went up against the group.

Despite uncertainty about the single origin of Yakuza organizations, most modern Yakuza derive from two classifications which emerged in the mid-Edo Period: tekiya, those who primarily peddled illicit, stolen or shoddy goods; bakuto, those who were involved in or participated in gambling. During the formation of the yakuza, they adopted the traditional Japanese hierarchical structure of oyabun-kobun where kobun (lit. foster child) owe their allegiance to the oyabun (lit. foster parent). In a much later period, the code of jingi (justice and duty) was developed where loyalty and respect are a way of life. The alleys and streets of Shinjuku are a popular modern Tokyo Yakuza hangout. Yubitsume, or the cutting of one's finger, is a form of penance or apology. Upon a first offence, the transgressor must cut off the tip of his left little finger and hand the severed portion to his boss. Sometimes an underboss may do this in penance to the oyabun if he wants to spare a member of his own gang from further retaliation. Its origin stems from the traditional way of holding a Japanese sword.

The bottom three fingers of each hand are used to grip the sword tightly, with the thumb and index fingers slightly loose. The removal of digits starting with the little finger moving up the hand to the index finger progressively weakens a person's sword grip. The idea is that a person with a weak sword grip then has to rely more on the group for protection—reducing individual action. In recent years, prosthetic fingertips have been developed to disguise this distinctive appearance. Many Yakuza have full-body tattoos. These tattoos, known as irezumi in Japan, are still often "hand-poked," that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and hand held tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel. The procedure is expensive and painful which can take years to complete. yakuza Yakuza literally translates to "Bad, crooked." Lives up to its name. Unlike other underworld mass criminal organization, Yakuza has heavy influence in Japanese politics. One example is during the WW2, when Yakuza members flourished throughout asia, stealing, making brothels, prostitution, drug sales. They were unstoppable.

Even today, they have close ties with politicians, and control most of the entertainment industry and other areas. Quite a bit of percentage of the Yakuza members prove to be of Korean ethnicity. An explanation would be that Koreans living in Japan aren't recognized as "Japanese" meaning that they are still subjected as aliens. Therefore, socially they become an outcast. It is natural for them to join social-outcast groups such as the Yakuza. Yakuza unlike other organized criminals have had relatively powerful influence in politics in Japan, especially during WW2 when Japan wrongfully committed crimes throughout Asian nations and Dutch. by kigga December 29, 2004 Brother (2000) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Watch Now From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video A Japanese gangster is exiled to Los Angeles where his brother lives with a small but respectable multi-racial gang, who he inspires to expand their influence.

Director: a list of 45 titles created 16 Apr 2012 a list of 22 titles created 16 Aug 2013 a list of 36 titles created 19 Oct 2014 a list of 27 titles created 29 Mar 2015 a list of 41 titles created 8 months ago Search for " Brother " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards » Videos Nishi leaves the police in the face of harrowing personal and professional difficulties. Spiraling into depression, he makes questionable decisions. Director: Takeshi Kitano The blind masseur/swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Director: Takeshi Kitano A young, naive boy sets out alone on the road to find his wayward mother. Soon he finds an unlikely protector in a crotchety man and the two have a series of unexpected adventures along the way.

Director: Takeshi Kitano The boss of a major crime syndicate orders his lieutenant to bring a rogue gang of drug traffickers in line, a job that gets passed on to his long-suffering subordinate. Director: Takeshi Kitano A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs. Director: Takeshi Kitano Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Okinawa to help end a gang war. The war escalates and the Tokyo drifters decide to lay low at the beach. Director: Takeshi Kitano As the police launch a full-scale crackdown on organized crime, it ignites a national yakuza struggle between the Sanno of the East and Hanabishi of the West. Director: Takeshi Kitano Dropping out of high school, two friends at first find success, one as a up-and-coming boxer and one as a low level gangster. Yet, their life decisions still find a way of catching up on them. Director: Takeshi Kitano Three stories of never-ending love. Director: Takeshi Kitano Two disquieted junior baseball players seek revenge on the local yakuza for attacking their coach.

Director: Takeshi Kitano Beat Takeshi, a prominent actor, meets a lookalike named Kitano, who is a struggling actor, but after the meeting, Kitano's dreams take a violent, surreal turn. Director: Takeshi Kitano Obsessed with the idea of owning his first car so he can have sex in it, a young man takes any job he can find and ends up in an escalating series of crazy situations. Director: Takeshi Kitano Edit Storyline A Japanese Yakuza gangster is exiled to the United States. Takeshi settles in Los Angeles where his younger, half brother lives and finds that although the turf is new, the rules are still the same as they try to take over the local drug trade. Written by Anonymous Are You Japanese? See more » Genres: Rated R for pervasive strong violence, language and brief nudity | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 27 January 2001 (Japan) See more » Also Known As: Adelfos ex aimatos See more » Filming Locations: $60,029 (USA) (20 July 2001) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia This was Kitano's only American film he ever made.

In an interview, Kitano said that he did not like the final result of Brother and that he regretted his "Hollywood adventure", which was supposed to bring him a wider audience. As a result, Kitano said that he had no intention of filming outside Japan again. See more » Goofs The car that explodes is a Lexus. When the gang see the flaming wreck, it's a different car. See more » Quotes Mo : What are you guys gonna do? Ken : Cut his finger off. Mo : What happens when you cut his finger off? Kato : Ummm... he can't swim straight anymore. [smiles] (Finland) – See all my reviews Takeshi Kitano's Brother is Kitano's masterpiece among his other films. I really haven't seen bad film from him. Brother is set in America as Kitano's character travels to US from Japan, and starts new life there. He has his half brother living there so he has a place to live in. Soon he starts to have new friends and become a leader and member of their new gang/yakuza. Violent confrontations with other gangs and mafia take place as everyone is willing to use violence and vengeance in order to settle things.

Brother has all the usual and breath taking Kitano elements we've learnt to see. The flashbacks of events, long shots without editing, character's faces that say more things than 100 words, images of beauty and peace and wry humor, among others elements. The main theme in Brother is loyalty and friendship that becomes even love. The last scene is fantastic and very unusual for Kitano; never has he underlined his message this clearly as he does in Brother's finale. It is so purifying scene and really makes the point clear, but still, most people don't understand anything about Kitano's films, because they are so personal and different compared to Western mainstream films. Brother is like a combination of Violent Cop and Hana'Bi. It has Violent Cop's bleakness and Hana-Bi's beauty and sadness. Brother is very sad film at times, and only last scene gives something really positive and also optimistic. Hana-Bi is very sad and beautiful film, and these two, Brother and Hana-Bi, have much in common. Both were composed by the same guy, Joe Hisaishi, who did fantastic job especially in Hana-Bi and also Sonatine.

Violent Cop is very gritty and also pessimistic film, and is very similar to Brother in its overall look of life. Both films are also very calm and restrained and not as visually stunning as Hana-Bi and Sonatine. All these films are masterpieces of Japanese cinema, and it is interesting to see how Kitano mixes elements from his other films and creates always something new and immortal. The violence is very brutal and challenging but definitely not gratuitous or exploitative. Kitano's violence is always very symbolic and sudden, and not necessarily realistic. These films analyze many aspects of violence as a tool of communicating for weak souls. Kitano definitely doesn't justify violence or praise it; he just shows what most people or film makers probably wouldn't even dare to think of, and once the viewer may be thinking "yeah, kill that b****rd!" the film turns against the viewer and makes him think what he just said and accepted. The more emotionally challenging film is, the more noteworthy it becomes and Kitano's films are perfect examples of that. Brother is also occasionally filled with Kitano's wry and personal humor which was at its taunting in his Boiling Point.

Brother has many great personal touches of its creator and every time Kitano's character laughs here, there is something very twisted in his mind and going on. Brother is not thoroughly cynical film after all, and these humoristic touches only add to the great purification of the last scene. The film criticizes yakuza also pretty much and with the director's personal style, as there are numerous scenes involving yakuza rites and codes of honor. Also, there is a great scene involving basketball and yakuza member's attempt to get the ball and be king of the game and have a feeling of being somebody. Boiling Point has plenty of these scenes and tones as the gangsters play tough guy with big guns and thus try to get acceptance. These films really should make yakuzas ask themselves, why? I am totally stunned by cinematic styles Kitano uses in his films. The editing and photography is so incredibly smooth and stylish, and creates the atmosphere of the film. The faces are among the most important details in Kitano's films as there are so many things to be read from characters' faces. For example, there is awesome scene in Brother's beginning where Kitano "sees" the death of a yakuza boss.

Kitano has totally unique sense of beauty, sensitivity and expressing emotions that has no comparison from other films. His character doesn't talk too much in his films, but anytime he says something, he says and expresses more than thousand words. His films are immortal and can be seen over and over again, and still they have plenty of things to offer for the lover of this unique cinema. Brother is among Kitano's greatest films and I definitely give this ten out of ten, because there are absolutely no negative aspects in this film, and this proudly stands in Takeshi Kitano's filmography. 38 of 50 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Question: What is the name of the Japanese mafia?
Answer: Yakuza