Yakuza is an organized criminal organization in Japan with a long history of over 400 years, making it even older than the United States, let alone the American Mafia.
Yakuza's development process has been winding and tortuous, transforming from a lowly organization of street vendors and gamblers to a massive organization with over 180000 members at one point, far surpassing the mafia.
The uniqueness of Yakuza
Yakuza is completely different from other criminal organizations, as it is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and does not always exist in an evil way. For centuries, they have been striving to create a dignified and somewhat noble image.
Yakuza portrays himself as a protector of the abandoned and a maintainer of order, just as their chosen name suggests - the Renxia group, or "righteous organization.".
This name contrasts sharply with the Japanese police's term for the Yakuza family - the violent group.
The characteristics of Yakuza
Yakuza has some unique traditions, such as iconic tattoos and the phenomenon of some members lacking a little finger.
Little known is that they often carry business cards and conduct business in public; In Japan, having connections with the Yakuza organization is not illegal; Unlike gangs in other countries, Yakuza usually does not use firearms.
Origin and Evolution
The origin of Yakuza can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868), where two groups of lowly people were known as the "temples" and the "Bo Tu".
Temples are mobile vendors, crossing villages. Many temples are seen as discriminatory pariahs, similar to those in India who exist below the social acceptance level.
But a gambler is a gambler. These two classes eventually organized and became involved in criminal activities such as loan sharks, extortion, and extortion.
Temples sometimes provide protection for underground casinos operated by apprentices, forming an intertwined criminal network.
Different from other criminal organizations
Unlike the mafia, Yakuza hardly conceals his identity and affairs in front of the authorities, and they usually cooperate with them.
Because belonging to the Yakuza organization is not a crime, they can openly conduct legitimate business and often engage in illegal transactions in secret cooperation with banks, companies, and officials.
If someone is causing trouble on the streets of Japan, the first to arrive is not the police, but members of Yakuza.
They will use the most brutal means to deal with troublemakers to maintain order on their territory; If a murder occurs, Yakuza will also spare no effort to investigate the truth like the police, and then hand over the murderer to the real police.
To repay the favor, senior members of Yakuza always avoid the government's crackdown on organized crime in advance. Considering the face of the police, they usually leave a few guns for the convenience of confiscating them.
Yakuza members even accept interviews with reporters and carry business cards with the names of criminal gangs.
In most countries, criminal gangs are illegal, for example, in the United States, the RICO Act against extortion can be used to prosecute mafia members. However, Japan regards Yakuza's membership as a legitimate right to assembly.
Self management and Code of Conduct
Yakuza has the characteristic of self-management and follows strict behavioral norms.
When members lose control of their behavior, Yakuza will impose disciplinary action on them. They also help reduce small crimes within their income areas.
In Kabuki cho, Tokyo, a bustling nightlife area, members of the Yakuza organization patrol the streets, monitoring places such as game halls, restaurants, and bars.
Political participation and commercialization
Yakuza has long been involved in politics.
In many cases, understanding the relationship between politicians and Yakuza is not particularly scandalous, and being recognized by the Yakuza organization can also bring political benefits.
In 2007, the Yamaguchi gumi and Inagawa kai supported the Democratic Party of Japan.
Yakuza has a good relationship with the political world, and behind every election, there are funds and votes from Yakuza.
Therefore, when the godfather of the Yamaguchi gang was imprisoned for murder, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi and two former ministers jointly released him on bail. This incident shocked the world, but Japanese people are accustomed to it.
In 1975, Japanese police found a huge photo at the home of a Yamaguchi group godfather, in which the godfather was drinking heavily with then Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira.
In the 1980s and 1990s, many Yakuza organizations adopted corporate structures and pursued huge profits by entering legal commercial activities.
Inagawa kai, one of the largest Yakuza families in Japan, has set up an office in the center of Tokyo, with its name boldly printed on the building catalog.
The Yakuza organization has also started managing multiple hedge funds and investing in speculative real estate and other profitable enterprises, which means they need to involve highly educated and skilled white-collar workers in their affairs, whether as partners or members of the organization.
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