The Yakuza
Ever heard of the Yakuza? Come on, of course you have. Organized crime has been around for centuries and there are few topics that have so regularly inspired movies and blurred the line between truth and fiction in so many different parts of the world than institutionalized illegality. The Japanese are no exception and their yakuza are not only the subject of many a contemporary tale of Robin Hood, but also a real institution, shrouded by mystery and as often well-structured as it is seemingly diffuse.
Many regard the yakuza as descendants of the armed groups that supported seventeenth century Japanese daimyos or powerful samurai. The more brutish of the yakuza arm are often considered to have developed post-World War II when the demand for black market goods created a booming underground industry. More powerful yakuza members are from prouder lineage, many of whom were brought up in families that modeled themselves after American gangsters of the 1920s. With the American occupation of the 1950s came an outlaw on firearms, but the questionable level of Japanese power with Douglas MacArthur effectively running the country, the yakuza developed a monopoly force and laid its foundation in Japanese politics and business.
The yakuza are reputed to hold influence over many members of the National Diet and police forces, which helps in its profiting on prostitution, gambling and other entertainment industries on the fringe of Japanese society. Known for their tattoos and being proud outcasts, as the very name “yakuza” reflects a losing hand in a Japanese card game, their influence is generally recognized more as a stabilizing and recognized function of Japanese society than a cultural scourge. Indeed, Japan is by no means a country plagued by violence, despite the estimated 110,000 members in 2,500 established yakuza families, according to Court TV’s Crime Library website. In contrast, according to the same source, the United States has more than double the Japanese population, but is known to have just 20,000 members of organized crime syndicates. Indeed, while the United States is known more for its losing battle with individual criminals, street gangs, as well as larger, more established criminal organizations, the yakuza are recognized to have a firm and long-standing alliance with Japan’s strong right-wing nationalists. Many have said that the yakuza’s influence flourishes in the corporate world as well, pursuing its will inside Japanese businesses and even internationally.
Jaa ne,
Christopher
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