Have you heard of the Japanese mafia yakuza? Do you know how they are organized? What are their codes of conduct? How do the Japanese view the yakuza? In this article, we will see everything about the Yakuza.
Yakuza [ヤクザ] is the name of the biggest criminal faction in Japan and the world. She is also known as Gokudō [極道]. There are more than 100,000 around the world belonging to the crime syndicate Yakuza.
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Definition - What is Yakuza?
For the Japanese police and press, this criminal organization is called Bōryokudan [暴力団], which means "Violent Group," but the often refer to themselves as Ninkyō dantai [任侠団体], which means "Chivalrous Organization."
The yakuza have a code of conduct and are very organized like the ancient samurais. Their follow a code of rules based on loyalty and fidelity, they also have some obligations such as not hiding money from the group, not seeking the police, and never disobeying an order from a superior.
According to the themselves, they do not commit crimes and carry out activities legally. Although some commit crimes, many make investments and offer protection to some establishments.
Origin - How did the Yakuza Mafia come about?
It is believed that the yakuza emerged in the mid Edo Period (1603 – 1868). They were divided into 2 groups:
- Tekiya [的屋] - Hawkers or traders who sold illegal, stolen, or low-quality goods;
- Bakuto [博徒] - Players who were involved in or participated in gambling games involving cards and dice;
The name Yakuza derives from the combination of Ya [八] Ku [九] Za [三], which is a numerical sequence 893 [八九三]. The numerical sequence is considered the worst type of hand in a Japanese card game like hanafuda [花札].
Realize that everything is involved with gambling, even the tattoos that yakuza gang wear, became popular because of the Bakuto who tattooed their entire body and showed off during gambling.
The Tekiya also influenced the activities carried out by Yakuza . During Shinto festivals, the street vendors set up stalls and hired some as security. Generally, the gang generates its income through protection for merchants.
Yakuza crimes and activities
The of Yakuza do not usually commit murders and thefts excessively like the traffickers in Rio de Janeiro. They are organized men who may fit into the category of politicians and religious leaders.
This is because many of the yakuza live in the midst of society discreetly and have a social life like anyone else. They are not pursued by the police and are not usually fugitives.
Many yakuza families have their homes in prominent places, mansions filled with security, some own companies or control businesses. Not even weapons are common among yakuza .
The Japanese mafia is involved in extortion, embezzlement, prostitution, gambling, money laundering, arms and drug trafficking, and more sophisticated white-collar crimes.
Many merchants and companies maintain relationships with Japanese mafia groups. According to a report from the National Police, in the year 2014, more than 22,000 people linked to yakuza groups were arrested in Japan.
There is no official data on the amounts moved by the Japanese mafia, but estimates are that the Japanese mafia moves “billions of dollars” per year illegally in Japan.
Generally, the of yakuza run bars, hostess clubs, and massage parlors in red light districts such as kabukicho. They are quite discreet, so there usually isn't much to comment on regarding their activities.
The Yakuza aren't that bad
Of course, some groups get involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution and many others. But it's not that scary, it's considered a semi-legitimate organization and it has helped many.
For example, after the Kobe Earthquake, Yamaguchi mobilized to provide relief services (including the use of a helicopter) that arrived before the government aid itself. This was widely reported and discussed.
A yakuza repeated its assistance after the earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku in 2011, with groups opening their offices for refugees and sending dozens of trucks with supplies to affected areas.
Many unions with the Yamaguchi-gumi officially prohibit their from getting involved in drug trafficking. They make large investments in well-known and legitimate companies, and they also have ties to the real estate market and banks.
Many times they participate in local festivals, such as the Sanja Matsuri, where they carry a shrine through the streets displaying their intricate tattoos. Sometimes they hold parties for children, or participate in festivals setting up their own booths.
As a matter of principle, theft is not recognized as a legitimate activity of the yakuza. This aligns with the idea that their activities are semi-open; theft, by definition, would be a cowardly activity.
Central activities, such as merchandising, loan sharking, or managing betting houses are usually managed by individuals outside of the yakuza, who pay protection fees for their activities.
Even so, you must be careful not to irritate a member of the yakuza. Generally, they are grumpy and do not like to communicate with strangers. Don't even think about picking a fight with one, or you could literally die.
I had a friend of a friend who hit an expensive car belonging to a member of the yakuza. The guy, who was Brazilian, simply fled the city to avoid having to pay. Can you believe the member of the yakuza tracked him down?
Yakuza family and structure
The crime syndicate yakuza is a family like the old mafias. The live for and honor the group that adopts a traditional Japanese hierarchical structure known as oyabun-kobun.
Kobun [子分] literally means adopted son, which are the who owe their allegiance to the oyabun [親分] who is the adoptive father of the family. The system follows a moral code of justice and duty called jingi [仁義].
The of the yakuza gangs cut their family ties and transfer their loyalty to the gang leader who is also called kumicho [組長] which means boss.
Saiko-komon (最高顧問): is a type of senior consultant and so-honbucho is a headquarters chief that is below the kumicho. The shingiiin [審議委員] takes care of legal matters, while the 会計 [会計] is literally the counter.
The waka-gashira [若頭] and the fuku-honbucho [副本部長] are responsible for the execution of a number of groups in a region. Each group is led by a shatei-gashira [舎弟頭].
The of the group also use a general hierarchy titled brothers as if it were in a religion. Kyoudai [兄弟] is used for older brothers and shatei [射程] for younger (brothers) of the group.
The biggest yakuza families
There are many families scattered across Japan. The main ones are listed below:
Yamaguchi-gumi [六代目山口組] - Created in 1915, it is the largest Yakuza family, with over 40,000 and divided into 750 clans. Its Oyabun (leader) is Kenichi Shinoda.
Sumiyoshi-rengo [住吉会] or Sumiyoshi-kai [住吉会] - It is the second largest family with more than ten thousand divided into 177 clans. His current Oyabun is Shigeo Nishiguchi, Osomuya Tanaka. She is the Yamaguchi-gumi's death enemy.
Inagawa-kaï [稲川会] - It is the third largest family with more than 7 thousand and is divided into 177 clans. His current Oyabun is Kakuji Inagawa. It was the first to operate outside and inside Japan
Towa Yuai Jigyo Kumiai [東亜友愛事業組合] or [東亜会] - It is the fourth largest family with more than a thousand and is divided into 6 clans. His current Oyabun is Satoru Nomura. It was the first to be created in Korea.
The Rituals and Customs of the Yakuza
When a yakuza commits a crime or wants to express remorse, he amputates his own finger in a ritual called “yubitsume”.
Many yakuza have their bodies covered in tattoos. These tattoos, known as irezumi, are often still handmade, that is, the ink is inserted under the skin using non-electric manual tools with bamboo or steel needles. The procedure is expensive, painful, and can take years to complete.
When the play cards of Oicho-Kabu with each other, they usually take off their shirts or open them and tie them around their waists. This allows them to show off their tattoos to each other.
This is one of the only moments when of the yakuza show their tattoos to others. They usually keep them hidden in public with long-sleeved shirts and turtlenecks.
Due to the association with the Yakuza, the Japanese have developed a prejudice against tattoos, but this does not prevent them from being seen as great works of art around the world.
Of course, there are still many other curiosities and facts about the Japanese mafia. I also recommend playing games like Yakuza, watching doramas like My boss my hero, and some movies to delve into the culture.
Finally, I'll leave a report from R7 talking about the Yakuza. Just ing that the media usually generalize things.
