'Yakuza (ヤクザ or やくざ , Yakuza^?), also known as '''gokudō'Bold text''' (極道), are members of traditional organized crime groups in Japan, and also known as the "violence gruop". Today, the Yakuza are one of the largest crime organizations in the world. Nationwide, there were some 84,700 known members of Yakuza.^[1] In Japanese legal terminology, yakuza organizations are referred to as bōryokudan, literally "violence groups", which Yakuza members consider an insult as it can be applied to any violent criminal. In Western press, Yakuza groups are often referred to as the "Japanese mafia". Yakuza refers to traditional organized crime groups in Japan and members thereof. ... Organized crime or criminal organizations are groups or operations run by criminals, most commonly for the purpose of generating a monetary profit. ... Bōryokudan (暴力団), literally violence group, is the term used by the Japanese police to describe the organized crime groups commonly known in the English-speaking world as yakuza. ... Since their appearance in the mid of 1800s, the Italian criminal organizations have infiltrated the social and economic life of many regions in South Italy, to later expand in some foreign countries (mainly the U.S). ...

History

Origins

The "kabuki-mono" were a group that dressed in a somewhat peculiar style and spoke in vulgar specialized vernacular that matched their often abrasive and outrageous behavior.

Despite their notoriety in modern Japan, the precise origin of the Yakuza is still somewhat the subject of debate. The first historical interpretation of their derivation is from the hatamoto-yakko or Kabuki-mono of the 17th century Genroku Era,^[2] who were derivative classes of the low-rank hatamoto, which resembled a quarter of the shogun.^[3] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (459x643, 65 KB) Summary Okuni, inventor of kabuki theatre Licensing The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (459x643, 65 KB) Summary Okuni, inventor of kabuki theatre Licensing The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... A hatamoto (旗本: Lit. ... Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate Shōgun )   is supreme general of the samurai,a military rank and historical title in Japan. ...

Other theories, suggested by the Yakuza members themselves claim their origins are from the machi-yokko, who policed villages by protecting them from the hatamoto-yakko that tried to steal from them, despite their being outmatched by the Hatamoto-yakko in training and strength. Despite their shortcomings, the machi-yakko were regarded as folk heroes similar to those in the stories of Robin Hood, with some groups being made the feature of plays and dramas.^[4][5] The derivation from the hatamoto-yakko or Kabuki-mono known for their adoption of strange hair styles and outrageous dress manner refers to a relevant era of the Genroku Period in which kabuki plays, and onnagata were prominent. For other uses, see Robin Hood (disambiguation). ... The oldest Kabuki theatre in Japan: the Minamiza in Kyoto The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ... This is the current Japanese collaboration of the week! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ...

Despite the different groups, the majority of the events which led to their inception occurred during the Edo period. As peacetime brought about by the destruction of the Toyotomi Clan ensured the Tokugawa shogunate's role of maintaining peace, shogun retainers were no longer required in their role as soldiers^[6] and moved from their own catchment areas to live in feudal castles where their income was determined by their daimyō. The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ... The Tokugawa shogunate or Tokugawa bakufu (徳川幕府) (also known as the Edo bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family until 1868. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ...

Due to the isolation of Japan and restriction of foreign trade, Japan's agricultural production and domestic trade greatly improved which resulted in the increase of power in the merchant class and the financial dependency of the samurai upon them -- samurai retainers were paid with rice by their daimyō, and then sold in markets as a means of generating their salary. For other uses, see Samurai (disambiguation). ...

As natural disasters, famine and tax increases led to the destabilization of the social hierarchy and the decline of morals due to public dissatisfaction with the government, factions of wayward, leaderless samurai known as ronin began to focus their attention from community service towards generating money through theft and violence towards smaller mercantile villages with disparate policing and little feudal control as they presented less-dangerous means of achieving iniquitous money. However, Yakuza that claim origin from the machi-yakko refute their origins from the hatamoto-yakko due to its association with thievery, which is supposedly unpracticed amongst modern Yakuza. Graves of the forty-seven Ronin at Sengaku-ji Ronin robbing a merchants house in Japan around 1860 (1) For other uses, see Ronin (disambiguation). ...

In larger towns, several of these groups often existed simultaneously, and they often fought for territory, money and influence much like modern gangs, disregarding any civilians caught in the crossfire. Again, this is the origin of a popular theme of Japanese film and television, made famous in the West by an Akira Kurosawa film called Yojimbo in which a wandering ronin sets two such gangs against each other and eventually destroys them. Yakuza derived some practices from both machi-yakko and kabukimono. Their protection rackets can be seen as originating from machi-yakko, but their more colorful fashion and language are derived from the kabukimono tradition. For this articles equivalent regarding the East, see Eastern culture. ... Kurosawa redirects here. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Yōjimbō 用心棒 is a 1961 film by Akira Kurosawa, in which a ronin, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune, arrives at a small town with competing crime lords making their money from gambling, and convinces each crime lord to hire him as protection from the other. ...

Divisions of origin

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; and bakuto, those who were involved in or participated in gambling.^[7] The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ...

Tekiya (peddlers) were considered one of the lowest of Edo castes. As they began to form organizations of their own, they took over some administrative duties relating to commerce, such as stall allocation and protection of their commercial activities. During Shinto festivals, these peddlers opened stalls and some members were hired to act as security. Each peddler paid rent in exchange for a stall assignment and protection during the fair. The Edo government eventually formally recognized such tekiya organizations and granted the "oyabun" (servants) of tekiya a surname as well as permission to carry a sword. This was a major step forward for the traders, as formerly only samurai and noblemen were allowed to carry swords. Tekiya (的屋 or テキ屋 peddlers) were itinerant Japanese merchants who, along with the bakuto (gamblers), were the predecessors to the modern yakuza. ...

Bakuto (gamblers) had a much lower social standing even than traders, as gambling was illegal. Many small gambling houses cropped up in abandoned temples or shrines at the edge of towns and villages all over Japan. Most of these gambling houses ran loan sharking businesses for clients, and they usually maintained their own security personnel. The places themselves, as well as the bakuto, were regarded with disdain by society at large, and much of the undesirable image of the yakuza originates from bakuto; This includes the name "yakuza" itself. Bakuto were itinerant gamblers in Japan from the 1700s to the mid-20th century. ...

Because of the economic situation during the mid-period and the predominance of the merchant class, developing Yakuza groups were composed of misfits and delinquents that had joined or formed Yakuza groups to extort customers in local markets by selling fake or shoddy goods.^[7] The roots of the Yakuza can still be seen today in initiation ceremonies, which incorporate tekiya or bakuto rituals. Although the modern yakuza has diversified, some gangs still identify with one group or the other; For example, a gang whose primary source of income is illegal gambling may refer to themselves as bakuto. Coming from the Latin, initiation implies a beginning. ... Rituals was an American soap opera that ran in syndication from September 1984 to September 1985 in 260 25 minutes episodes. ...

Post-War Yakuza: Gurentai

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

As Japan began to industrialize and urbanization got underway, a third group of yakuza called gurentai (愚連隊) began to emerge (though the name gurentai was not given until after World War II). Whether they fall into the traditional definition of yakuza is still open to debate, but they certainly gave birth to another kind of yakuza, the bōryokudan (violence group). In short, a gurentai is a gang in a much more traditional sense, a group of young unruly thugs who peddle their violence for profit. They often engaged in the suppression of unions and other workers' organizations and such activities brought them much closer to the conservative elements of the Japanese power structure. During the militarisation of Japan, some of them became the militant wing of Japanese politics known as uyoku (right wing, 右翼), i.e. ultra-nationalists. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses, see Pacific War (disambiguation). ... Bōryokudan (暴力団), literally violence group, is the term used by the Japanese police to describe the organized crime groups commonly known in the English-speaking world as yakuza. ... A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers. ... Militarism or militarist ideology is the doctrinal view of a society as being best served (or more efficient) when it is governed or guided by concepts embodied in the culture, doctrine, system, or people of the military. ... Uyoku (右翼, lit. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ...

Unlike more traditional yakuza, uyoku did not maintain territories—they leveraged their violence for political gain. The most famous group before World War II was the Kokuryū-kai (黒龍会), or Black Dragon Society. The Kokuryu-kai was a secret ultra-nationalist umbrella organization whose membership was composed of government officials and military officers as well as many martial artists and members of the Japanese underworld who engaged in political terrorism and assassination. They also provided espionage services for the Japanese colonial government. Kokuryū-kai engaged in contraband operations including the Chinese opium trade, as well as prostitution and gambling overseas which provided them with funds as well as information. Kokuryu-kai (Amur River Society), also known as the Black Dragon Society, was a prominent paramilitary, ultra-nationalist right-wing group in Japan. ... An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. ... Terrorist redirects here. ... During the first part of the Shōwa era, Japan, with the Great Depression turned to military totalitarianism, like some occidental countries. ... This article is about the drug. ...

During the post-War rationing, the yakuza controlled the black market much in line with traditional tekiya operations. At the same time, they also moved into controlling major sea ports as well as the entertainment industry. The biggest yakuza umbrella group, the Yamaguchi-gumi, emerged in the Kansai region, which had a large entertainment industry in the city of Osaka as well as a major sea port in Kobe. American occupation forces fought against them in vain and conceded defeat in 1950. Yakuza also adapted to a more western style, including wearing clothing reminiscent of US gangsters, and began to use firearms. At this point, tekiya and bakuto no longer confined themselves to their traditional activities and expanded into any venture they found profitable. At the same time gurentai began to adopt traditional roles of tekiya and bakuto. They also began to feud among themselves, jockeying for power and prestige. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into underground economy. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Kansai (Japanese: 関西) region of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō), lies in the Southern-Central region of Japans main island, Honshu. ... Osaka )   is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of HonshÅ«. The city is the capital of Osaka Prefecture. ... This article is about the Japanese city. ...

In the 1960s, Yoshio Kodama, an ex-nationalist, began to negotiate treaties with various groups, first with the Yamaguchi-gumi of Kazuo Taoka and Tōsei-kai of Hisayuki Machii and eventually with the Inagawa-kai. Fights between individual gangs, however, are ongoing. Yoshio Kodama (児玉誉士夫 Kodama Yoshio; February 18, 1911 - January 17, 1984) was a prominent figure in the rise of organized crime in Japan. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Kazuo Taoka (田岡一雄, Taoka Kazuo) is the most prominent of the yakuza kumicho (godfathers), known as the Godfather of Godfathers. ... Tōa YÅ«ai Jigyō Kumiai (東亜友愛事業組合), or the East Asia Friendship Enterprise Association, is a Japanese yakuza syndicate with a predominantly Korean membership. ... Hisayuki Machii (町井 久之 Machii Hisayuki; 1923 - 2002) , AKA the Ginza Tiger (銀座の虎 Ginza-no-Tora), was the founder of one of Japans most notorious yakuza gangs, the Tosei-Kai (東声会). A Korean, Machii was born Chong Gwon Yong (é„­ 建永) in 1923 when Korea was under Japanese occupation. ... The Inagawa-kai (稲川会) is the third largest of Japans yakuza groups, with approximately 5,000 members. ...

The Korean Yakuza

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

Certain public Japanese bathhouses (sentō) and gymnasiums often openly ban those bearing large or graphic tattoos in an attempt to prevent Yakuza from entering.

Main article: Koreans in Japan

Koreans are a prominent part of yakuza, despite or perhaps because Koreans suffer discrimination in Japanese society. Although Japanese-born people of Korean ancestry are a significant segment of the Japanese population, they are still considered resident aliens. But Koreans, who are often shunned in legitimate trades, are embraced by the Japanese yakuza precisely because they fit the group's "outsider" image. The man who paved the way for Koreans in Japanese organized crime was the Korean yakuza godfather Hisayuki Machii. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 447 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (926 × 1241 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 447 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (926 × 1241 pixel, file size: 1. ... A bath house is a place where people bathe. ... Entrance to the sentō at the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum Sentō ) is a type of Japanese communal bath house where customers pay for entrance. ... Gymnasium can have following meanings: Gymnasium (ancient Greece)—an educational and sporting institution in Ancient Greece Gymnasium—a school of secondary education found in several European countries (approx. ... Zainichi Koreans, also often known as Zainichi for short, are the permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan. ... Hisayuki Machii (町井 久之 Machii Hisayuki; 1923 - 2002) , AKA the Ginza Tiger (銀座の虎 Ginza-no-Tora), was the founder of one of Japans most notorious yakuza gangs, the Tosei-Kai (東声会). A Korean, Machii was born Chong Gwon Yong (鄭 建永) in 1923 when Korea was under Japanese occupation. ...

Born Chong Gwon Yong in 1923 in Japanese-occupied Korea, Machii was an ambitious street hood who saw opportunity in Japan and seized it. After the Japanese surrender, Machii worked with the United States Counter Intelligence Corps, which valued his staunch anti-communist beliefs. While leaders of the Japanese yakuza were imprisoned or under close scrutiny by the American occupying forces, the Korean yakuza were free to take over the lucrative black markets. But rather than trying to rival the Japanese godfathers, Machii made alliances with them, and throughout his career, he remained close to both Kodama and Taoka. The History of the Counter Intelligence Corps was a classified 30 volume book prepared in the late 1950s by Maj. ... Anti-communism is opposition to communist ideology, organization, or government, on either a theoretical or practical level. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into underground economy. ...

In 1948 Machii established the Tosei-kai (Voice of the East Gang) and soon took over Tokyo's Ginza district, the Times Square of Japan's capital. The Tosei-kai became so powerful in Tokyo that they were known as the "Ginza police," and even the Yamaguchi-gumi's all-powerful Taoka had to cut a deal with Machii to allow that group to operate in Tokyo. Machii's vast empire included tourism, entertainment, bars and restaurants, prostitution, and oil importing. He and Kodama made a fortune on real estate investments alone. More importantly, he brokered deals between the Korean government and the yakuza that allowed Japanese criminals to set up rackets in Korea, a country that had been victimized by the Japanese for many years. Thanks to Machii, Korea became the yakuza's home away from home. Befitting his role as fixer between the underworlds of both countries, Machii was allowed to acquire the largest ferry service between Shimanoseki, Japan, and Pusan, South Korea—the shortest route between the two countries. Whore redirects here. ...

In the mid-1960s, pressure from the police forced Machii to officially disband the Tosei-kai. He formed two supposedly legitimate organizations around this time, the Toa Sogo Kigyo (East Asia Enterprises Company) and Toa Yuai Jigyo Kumiai (East Asia Friendship Enterprises Association), which became fronts for his criminal activities. He was widely believed to have helped the Korean Central Intelligence Agency kidnap then-leading Korean opposition leader Kim Dae Jung from a Tokyo hotel (see kidnapping of Kim Dae-Jung). Kim was whisked out to sea where he was bound, gagged, blindfolded and fitted with weights so that his body would never surface. The execution by drowning was abruptly cancelled when aircraft buzzed the ship, and Kim was mysteriously delivered to his neighborhood in Seoul. American intervention is said to have saved his life. A police investigation revealed that Machii's people had rented every other room on the floor of the hotel where Kim had been staying, but Machii was never charged with any crime in connection with kidnapping. Machii "retired" in his 80s and was frequently seen vacationing in Hawaii. He died on September 14, 2002. Tōa Yūai Jigyō Kumiai (東亜友愛事業組合), or the East Asia Friendship Enterprise Association, is a Japanese yakuza syndicate with a predominantly Korean membership. ... A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, criminal organizations, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy groups, or corporations. ... The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is the chief intelligence agency of South Korea. ... Kim Dae-jung (born January 6, 1926) is a former South Korean president and the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, the first winner of a Nobel to hail from Korea [1]. A Roman Catholic since 1957, he has been called the Nelson Mandela of Asia [2] and was a symbol... The South Korean dissident leader Kim Dae-Jung, later president of South Korea, was kidnapped on August 8, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Also, Tokutaro Takayama was the kaicho of the Fourth Aizukotetsu yakuza gang. An ethnic Korean, he rose to power as the head of the Kyoto-based gang until his retirement in the 1990s. Tokutaro Takayama is the former head of the Aizukotetsu-Kai yakuza gang. ...

Organization and activities

The Yakuza are a popular subject in films

Image File history File links Japanese movie poster for the 1975 Warner Bros. ... Image File history File links Japanese movie poster for the 1975 Warner Bros. ...

Structure

During the formation of the yakuza, they adopted the traditional Japanese hierarchical structure of oyabun-kobun where kobun (子分; lit. foster child) owe their allegiance to the oyabun (親分; lit. foster parent). 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, and may have been a part of "sworn brotherhood" relationships. Oyabun is a Japanese word meaning father figure or boss. It is traditionally used by yakuza members to describe their boss or Godfather. ... Sake barrels at Itsukushima Shrine. ... Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ...

During the World War II period in Japan, the more traditional tekiya/bakuto form of organization 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 Burakumin and ethnic Korean backgrounds. 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 Machiavellian. Bōsōzoku (Japanese: 暴走族; violent running tribe) is a Japanese subculture associated with types of car and motorcycle clubs and gangs. ... Burakumin (: buraku, community or hamlet + min, people), or hisabetsu buraku ( discriminated communities / discriminated hamlets) are a Japanese social minority group. ...

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" (お姉さん older sister). Unlike many crime groups, women are sometimes involved in its activities. When the Yamaguchi-gumi (Family) boss was shot in the late nineties, his wife took over as boss of Yamaguchi-gumi, albeit for a short time. Senpai ) is a Japanese term (sometimes an honorific) for a person in a club or other organization, including a school or college, who is a senior, in other words a member of a year above. ... Senpai (先輩, せんぱい) is a Japanese term for a person in a club or other organization, including a school or college, who is a senior. ...

The Yakuza have a very complex organizational structure. There is an overall boss of the syndicate, the kumicho, and directly beneath him are the saiko komon (senior advisor) and so-honbucho (headquarters chief). The second in the chain of command is the wakagashira, who governs several gangs in a region with the help of a fuku-honbucho who is himself responsible for several gangs. The regional gangs themselves are governed by their local boss, the shateigashira. [1]

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.

Rituals

A Dowa Yakuza member's "Irezumi" showing a fierce tiger. Often, these tattoos are used to represent a desired or possessed characteristic such as wealth and bravery.

Yubitsume, or finger-cutting, is a form of penance or apology. Upon a first offense, the transgressor must cut off the tip of his left pinky 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. (When the British cartoon Bob the Builder was first considered for import to Japan, there were plans in place to add an extra digit to each of the title character's four-fingered hands to avoid scaring children. The same thing was also considered for the show Postman Pat.) [2] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (410 × 615 pixel, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (410 × 615 pixel, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Yubitsume is a Japanese ritual to atone for offenses to another, a way to be punished or to show sincere apology to another. ... Oyabun is a Japanese word meaning father figure or boss. It is traditionally used by yakuza members to describe their boss or Godfather. ... Bob the Builder is a childrens television clay character created by Keith Chapman. ... Postman Pat is a British stop-motion animated childrens television series produced by Woodland Animations. ...

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 and can take years to complete.^[8] The Japanese word irezumi (入れ墨, 入墨, 文身, 剳青, 黥 or 刺青) refers to the insertion of ink under the skin to leave a permanent, usually decorative mark, in other words, tattooing. ...

Yakuza in prison sometime perform pearlings: for each year spent in prison one pearl is inserted under the skin of the penis. Pearling refers to the practice of permanently inserting small beads made of various materials beneath the skin of the shaft or foreskin of the penis. ... The penis (plural penises, penes) is an external male sexual organ. ...

When yakuza members play Oicho-Kabu cards with each other, they often remove their shirts or open them up and drape them around their waists. This allows them to display their full-body tattoos to each other. This is one of the few times that yakuza members display their tattoos to others, as they normally keep them concealed in public with long-sleeved and high-necked shirts. Oicho-Kabu is a traditional Japanese gambling game similar to the Western games blackjack and baccarat. ...

Another prominent yakuza ritual is the sake-sharing ceremony. This is used to seal bonds of brotherhood between individual yakuza members, or between two yakuza groups. For example, in August 2005 , the Godfathers Kenichi Shinoda and Kazuyoshi Kudo held a sake-sharing ceremony, sealing a new bond between their respective gangs, the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Kokusui-kai. Sake barrels at Itsukushima Shrine. ... Kenichi Shinoda (篠田 建市 Shinoda Kenichi), also known as Shinobu Tsukasa (司 忍 Tsukasa Shinobu, born January 25, 1942) is the sixth and current kumicho (supreme Godfather) of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japans largest yakuza organization. ... Kazuyoshi Kudo is a Japanese organized crime figure. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Kokusui-kai (Patriotic Society) is a Tokyo based yakuza organization with an estimated 500 members. ...

Principal families

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

Although yakuza membership has declined following an antigang law aimed specifically at yakuza and passed by the Japanese government in 1992, there are thought to be more than 87,000 active yakuza members in Japan today. Although there are many different Yakuza groups, together they form the largest organized crime group in the world. Most yakuza members belong to four principal families (see below.) Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

Principal families	Description	Their Mon (crest)
Yamaguchi-gumi (六代目山口組, Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi, Yamaguchi-gumi ?)	Created in 1915, the Yamaguchi-gumi is the biggest yakuza family with more than 39,000 members divided into 750 clans (thus making up 45% of all yakuza in Japan.) Despite more than one decade of police repression, the Yamaguchi-gumi has continued to grow. From its headquarters in Kobe, it directs criminal activities throughout Japan. It is also involved in operations in Asia and the United States. Shinobu Tsukasa, also known as Kenichi Shinoda, is the Yamaguchi-gumi's current oyabun. He follows an expansionist policy, and has increased operations in Tokyo (which has not traditionally been the territory of the Yamaguchi-gumi.)	Yamabishi (山菱), the Mon of the Yamaguchi-gumi
Sumiyoshi-rengo (住吉会), sometimes known as Sumiyoshi-kai (住吉会)	The Sumiyoshi-rengo is the second largest yakuza family, with 10,000 members divided into 177 clans. The Sumiyoshi-kai, as it is sometimes called, is a confederation of smaller yakuza groups. Its current oyabun is Shigeo Nishiguchi. Structurally, Sumiyoshi-kai differs from its principal rival, the Yamaguchi-gumi, in that it functions like a federation. The chain of command is more lax, and although Shigeo Nishiguchi is always the supreme oyabun, its leadership is distributed among several other people.
Inagawa-kaï (稲川会)	The Inagawa-kaï is the third largest yakuza family in Japan, with roughly 7,400 members divided into 313 clans. It is based in the Tokyo-Yokohama area and was one of the first yakuza families to expand its operations to outside of Japan. Its current oyabun is Kakuji Inagawa.
Tao Yuai Jigyo Kummiai (東亜友愛事業組合), sometime called Tōa-kai (東亜会)	Founded by Hisayuki Machii in 1948, the Tao Yuai Jigyo Kummiai yakuza family quickly became one of most influential yakuza groups in Tokyo. It is composed of yakuza of Korean origin, and numbers more than 1,000 divided into 6 clans. Its current oyabun is Satoru Nomura.

The chrysanthemum (kiku in Japanese) is the mon of the Japanese Emperor. ... This article is about the Japanese city. ... Kenichi Shinoda (篠田 建市 Shinoda Kenichi), also known as Shinobu Tsukasa (司 忍 Tsukasa Shinobu, born January 25, 1942) is the sixth and current kumicho (supreme Godfather) of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japans largest yakuza organization. ... Oyabun is a Japanese word meaning father figure or boss. It is traditionally used by yakuza members to describe their boss or Godfather. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Yamabishi. ... Image File history File links Yamabishi. ... Image File history File links Sumiyoshi-kai. ... Image File history File links Sumiyoshi-kai. ... Kakuji Inagawa (稲川 角二 Inagawa Kakuji) , as known as Seijō Inagawa (稲川 聖城 Inagawa Seijō) was a Japanese yakuza boss best known for founding the Inagawa-kai, Japans third-largest yakuza syndicate. ... Image File history File links Inagawa-kai. ... Image File history File links Inagawa-kai. ... Hisayuki Machii (町井 久之 Machii Hisayuki; 1923 - 2002) , AKA the Ginza Tiger (銀座の虎 Ginza-no-Tora), was the founder of one of Japans most notorious yakuza gangs, the Tosei-Kai (東声会). A Korean, Machii was born Chong Gwon Yong (鄭 建永) in 1923 when Korea was under Japanese occupation. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ...

Current activities

In Japan

Much of the current activities of the yakuza can be understood in the light of their feudal origin. First, they are not a secret society like their counterparts of the Italian mafia and Chinese triads. Yakuza organizations often have an office with a wooden board on the front door, openly displaying their group name or emblem. Members often wear sunglasses and colourful suits so that their profession can be immediately recognized by civilians (katagi). Even the way many Yakuza walk is markedly different from ordinary citizens. Their arrogant, wide gait is markedly different from the quiet, unassuming way many Japanese go about their business. Alternatively, Yakuza can dress more conservatively and flash their tattoos to indicate their affiliation when the need arises. On occasion they also sport insignia pins on their lapels. One Yakuza family even printed a monthly newsletter with details on prisons, weddings, funerals, murders, and poems by leaders. This article is about the criminal society. ... Triad (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; literally Triad Society) or (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; literally Black Society, a general term for criminal organizations) is a term that describes many branches of Chinese underground society and/or organizations based in Hong Kong and Macau and also operating in Taiwan, mainland...

Until recently, the majority of yakuza income came from protection rackets in shopping, entertainment and red-light districts within their territory. This is mainly due to the reluctance of such businesses to seek help from the police. The Japanese police are also reluctant to interfere in internal matters in recognized communities such as shopping arcades, schools/universities, night districts and so on. In this sense, yakuza are still regarded as semi-legitimate organizations. For example, immediately after the Kobe earthquake, the Yamaguchi-gumi, whose headquarters are in Kobe, mobilised itself to provide disaster relief services (including the use of a helicopter), and this was widely reported by the media as a contrast to the much slower response by the Japanese government. For this reason, many yakuza regard their income and hustle (shinogi) as a collection of a feudal tax. Categories: Japan-related stubs | 1995 | Earthquakes | Japanese history ... This article is about the Japanese city. ...

Yakuza are heavily involved in sex-related industries, smuggling pornography from Europe and America into Japan. They also control large prostitution rings throughout the country. In China, where the law restricts the amount of children per household and the cultural preference is for boys, the yakuza can buy unwanted girls for as little as $5,000 and put them to work in the mizu shōbai, which means 'water trade' and refers to the night entertainment business, in yakuza-controlled bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The Philippines are another source of young women. Yakuza trick girls from impoverished villages into coming to Japan, where they would be given respectable jobs with good wages. Instead, they are forced into becoming prostitutes and strippers. Often the girls succumb to the demands of their pimps, since they are earning more money than they ever could in the Philippines. [3] Porn redirects here. ... Mizu shōbai (Japanese: 水商売), or the water trade, is the traditional euphemism for the night-time entertainment business in Japan, provided by geisha, hostess or snack bars, bars, and cabarets. ...

The alleys and streets of Shinjuku are a popular modern Tokyo Yakuza hangout.

Yakuza frequently engage in a uniquely Japanese form of extortion, known as sōkaiya (総会屋). In essence, this is a specialized form of protection racket. Instead of harassing small businesses, the yakuza harasses a stockholders' meeting of a larger corporation. They simply scare the ordinary stockholder with the presence of yakuza operatives, who obtain the right to attend the meeting by a small purchase of stock. They also engage in simple blackmail, obtaining incriminating or embarrassing information about a company's practices or leaders. Once the yakuza gain a foothold in these companies, they will work for them to protect the company from having such internal scandals exposed to the public. Some companies still include payoffs as part of their annual budget. Image File history File links Shinjuku back alleys at night, March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Shinjuku back alleys at night, March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Shinjuku ) is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. ... Sōkaiya (総会屋) are a form of specialized racketeer unique to Japan, and often associated with the yakuza. ...

The Yakuza have a strong influence in Japanese professional wrestling, or puroresu. Most of their interest in wrestling activities and promotions is purely financial. The Yakuza have mostly gotten involved by financially supporting wrestling promotions with fading fortunes, or simple business loans. Many venues used by wrestling (arenas, stadiums, and so forth) are owned or connected to the Yakuza, and as such, when a promotion uses one of their sites, the Yakuza receive a percentage of the gate. The Yakuza as a whole is regarded as a great supporter of both puroresu and MMA. It's not unusual for wrestlers to receive specific instructions on what to do in their matches so as to appeal just to Yakuza members in the crowd. It is thought in Japan that it is safe to say that none of the large wrestling promotions in Japan would fold, because they would be rescued by the Yakuza. The pioneer of wrestling in Japan, Rikidozan, was killed by the Yakuza. WWE wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri was asked to start a Yakuza gimmick, an offer he quickly refused, fearing that he would be targeted by the real Yakuza. Professional wrestler Yoshiaki Fujiwara is often referred to as "Kumicho (i.e, "Godfather") and his wrestling promotion was called the Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi. He often portrays Yakuza figures as an actor on Japanese television comedies and dramas. For the video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ... Puroresu is Japanese professional wrestling, as seen in FMW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All Japan Pro Wrestling. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... Rikidōzan (Japanese: 力道山, Korean: 역도산, November 14, 1924 - December 15, 1963) was a professional wrestler, known as the Father of Puroresu and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Yoshihiro Tajiri , born September 29, 1970 in Yokohama, Japan), is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the United States with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. ... Yoshiaki Fujiwara (藤原喜明 Fujiwara Yoshiaki) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF. // Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ... Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Group (Purofesshonaru-resuringu Fujiwara-Gumi, プロフェッショナルレスリング藤原組) was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion based in Japan, operating from 1991 to 1995. ...

Yakuza also have ties to the Japanese realty market and banking, through jiageya (地上げ屋). Jiageya specialize in inducing holders of small real estate to sell their property so that estate companies can carry out much larger development plans. Japan's bubble economy of the 1980s is often blamed on real estate speculation by banking subsidiaries. After the collapse of the Japanese property bubble, a manager of a major bank in Nagoya was assassinated, and much speculation ensued about the banking industry's indirect connection to the Japanese underworld. Nagoya ) is the fourth largest city in Japan. ...

Yakuza have been known to make large investments in legitimate, mainstream companies. In 1989 Susumu Ishii, the Oyabun of the Inagawa Alliance (a well known Yakuza group) bought US$ 255 million worth of Tokyo Kyuko Electric Railway's stock. [4] USD redirects here. ... Tokyu Series-8000 train approaching Daikanyama Station. ...

As a matter of principle, theft is not recognised as a legitimate activity of yakuza. This is in line with idea that their activities are semi-open; theft by definition would be a covert activity. More importantly, such an act would be considered a trespass by the community. Also, yakuza usually do not conduct the actual business operation by themselves. Core business activities such as merchandising, loan sharking or management of gambling houses are typically managed by non-yakuza members who pay protection fees for their activities.

There is much evidence of Yakuza involvement in international crime. There are many tattooed Yakuza members imprisoned in various Asian prisons for such crimes as drug trafficking and arms smuggling. In 1997, one verified Yakuza member was caught smuggling 4 kilograms (8.82 pounds) of heroin into Canada. In 1999, Italian-American Mafia Bonnano family member, Mickey Zaffarano, was overheard talking about the profits of the pornography trade that both families could profit from.^[9] Another Yakuza racket is bringing women of other ethnicities/races, especially East European^[10] and Asian^[11] to Japan under the lure of a glamourous position, then forcing the women into prostitution.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ... This article is about the criminal society. ... The Bonanno crime family is one of the Five Families that controls organized crime activities in New York City, USA, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia (or Cosa Nostra). ... Eastern Europe is, by convention, a region defined geographically as that part of Europe covering the eastern part of the continent. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...

Because of their history as a legitimate feudal organization and their connection to the Japanese political system through the uyoku (extreme right-wing political groups), yakuza are somewhat a part of the Japanese establishment. In the early 80s in Fukuoka, a yakuza war spiraled out of control and a few civilians were hurt. The police stepped in and forced the yakuza bosses on both sides to declare a truce in public. At various times, people in Japanese cities have launched anti-yakuza campaigns with mixed and varied success. In March 1995, the Japanese government passed the "Act for Prevention of Unlawful Activities by Criminal Gang Members" which made traditional racketeering much more difficult. This article is about a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ...

In America

Yakuza activity in the United States is mostly relegated to Hawaii, but have made their presence known in other parts of the country. The Yakuza are said to use Hawaii as a way station between Japan and mainland America, smuggling crystal methamphetamine into the country and smuggling back firearms to Japan. They easily fit into the local population, since many tourists from Japan and other Asian countries visit the islands on a regular basis. The Yakuza were estimated to control around 90% of the methamphetamine trade in Hawaii as of 1988. They also work with local gangs, funneling Japanese tourists to gambling parlors and brothels. This article is about the U.S. State. ... Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. ...

In California, the Yakuza have made alliances with local Vietnamese and Korean gangs as well as Chinese triads. Yakuza gangsters have also been spotted in Las Vegas and New York City, where they appear to collect finders fees from American mafiosos and businessmen for guiding Japanese tourists to gambling establishments, both legal and illegal. [5] For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

In Australia

Yakuza presence in Australia at present is minimal, being restricted mainly to the Gold Coast, Queensland, where Yakuza members go to launder money in Gold Coast Casinos, or to extort money from Japanese businesses (mainly tourism). As it stands, the Yakuza have no known permanent stakes in Australia, but with new anti-gang laws appearing in Japan, some anticipate the Yakuza making plans for a permanent base in Australia, which would bring them into direct confrontation with gangs such as the Mafia, the 'Ndrangheta and the Irish Mob. Gold Coast redirects here. ... This article is about the criminal society. ... Calabria in Italy Map of Calabria The Calabrian Ndrangheta (from the Greek word andragathía for heroism and virtue — The Honoured Society), IPA: , is one of the most powerful and ruthless organized crime organizations in Italy. ... The Irish Mob, or Irish Mafia, is one of the oldest organized crime groups in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. ...

References

Notes

Edo (Japanese: , literally: bay-door, estuary, pronounced //), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ... Japanorama is a series of documentaries presented by Jonathan Ross, exploring various facets of popular culture and trends of modern-day Japan. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 3. ...

Internet-based

1. Bruno, A. (2007). "The Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia" CrimeLibrary: Time Warner

Books

• Kaplan, David, Dubro Alec. (1986). "Yakuza" Addison-Wesley (ISBN 0-201-11151-9)
• Kaplan, David, Dubro Alec. (2004). "Yakuza: Expanded Edition" University of California Press (ISBN 0-520-21562-1)
• Hill, Peter B.E. (2003). "The Japanese Mafia: Yakuza, Law, and the State" Oxford University Press (ISBN 0-19-925752-3)
• Johnson, David T. (2001). "The Japanese Way of Justice: Prosecuting Crime in Japan" Oxford University Press (ISBN 0-19-511986-X)
• Miyazaki, Manabu. (2005) "Toppamono: Outlaw. Radical. Suspect. My Life in Japan's Underworld" Kotan Publishing (ISBN 0-9701716-2-5)
• Seymour, Christopher. (1996). "Yakuza Diary" Atlantic Monthly Press (ISBN 0-87113-604-X)
• Saga, Junichi., Bester, John. (1991) "Confessions of a Yakuza: A Life in Japan's Underworld" Kodansha America
• Schilling, Mark. (2003). "The Yakuza Movie Book" Stone Bridge Press (ISBN 1-880656-76-0)
• Sterling, Claire. (1994). "Thieves' World" Simon & Schuster (ISBN 0-671-74997-8)
• Sho Fumimura-Writer, Ryoichi Ikegami-Artist; "Sanctuary" [Series 1993-1997, Viz Communications Inc, Vol 1: ISBN 0-929279-97-2; Vol 2:ISBN 0-929279-99-9; Vol 3: ISBN 1-56931-042-4; Vol 4: ISBN 1-56931-039-4; Vol 5: ISBN 1-56931-112-9; Vol 6: ISBN 1-56931-199-4; Vol 7: ISBN 1-56931-184-6; Vol 8: ISBN 1-56931-207-9; Vol 9: ISBN 1-56931-235-4]

Manabu Miyazaki is also the name of a Japanese wildlife photographer. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Confessions of a Yakuza ) is a book by Japanese doctor and author Junichi Saga (1991). ...

Selected film references

Main article: Yakuza film

• Tokyo Drifter (Seijun Suzuki, 1966)
• Sympathy for the Underdog (Kinji Fukasaku, 1971)
• Battles Without Honor and Humanity (Kinji Fukasaku, 1973)
• The Street Fighter (1974)
• The Yakuza (Sydney Pollack, 1975)
• Boiling Point (Takeshi Kitano, 1990)
• Minbo (Juzo Itami, 1992)
• Sonatine (Takeshi Kitano, 1993)
• Kids Return (Takeshi Kitano, 1996)
• Brother (Takeshi Kitano, 2000)
• Gozu (Takashi Miike, 2003)
• Ichi The Killer (