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Yakuza, also known as gokudō, are members of traditional organized crime groups in Japan. Although its membership has declined, following an anti-gang law by the Japanese government in 1992, aimed specifically at them, there are still some 86,300 known members in Japan alone as of 2005, making them among the largest crime organizations in the world.[1] The actual meaning of the word "yakuza," is unknown, although speculations include the idea that it is taken from the numbers 8, 9, and 3, the sum of which is 20. This sum is the equivalent to busting in Oicho-kabu, a game similar to Blackjack but with a point-score limit of 19 instead of 21.
"Yakuza" written in katakana
2. History: Despite their notoriety in modern Japan, the Yakuza's precise origin is somewhat obscure. The first historical interpretation of their origin is from the hatamoto-yakko (servants of the shogun) or Kabuki-mono (crazy ones) [1] of the 17th century Genroku Era. They were lower-salaried samurai that constituted a quarter of the shogun's retainers.[1] Other theories, suggested by the Yakuza members themselves, claim their origins to be from the machi-yokko, who policed villages by protecting them from the hatamoto-yakko that tried to steal from them. Despite their shortcomings, the machi-yakko were regarded as folk heroes, similar to Robin Hood, with some groups being made the feature of plays and dramas.[1] The majority of the events which led to their inception occurred during the Edo period. During the Tokugawa era, an extended period of peace in Japan, the services of these samurai were no longer needed, and they became leaderless ronin (wave men). Without the guidance of a strong hand, they eventually shifted their focus from community service to theft and mayhem.[1] In larger towns, several of these groups often co-existed and fought for territory, money, and influence, much like modern gangs. During the World War II period, the yakuza declined as the entire population was mobilized to participate in the war effort and society came under strict military government. After the war, however, the Yakuza adapted again.
3. Structure: The Yakuza have a very complex organizational structure. The kumicho is the overall boss of the syndicate and control various saikō-komon (senior advisor) and so-honbucho (headquarters chief). The saikō-komon control their own turfs in different areas or cities. They have their own underlings, including other under-bosses, advisors, accountants and enforcers. The regional gangs themselves are governed by their local boss, the shateigashira.[1] 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. Many yakuza start out in junior high school or high school as common street thugs or members of bōsōzoku gangs. Members of yakuza gangs cut their family ties and transfer their loyalty to the gang boss. They refer to each other as family members. The Yakuza is populated almost entirely by men, and there are very few women involved who are called "o-nee-san" (older sister).
4. Principal families: Most yakuza members belong to four principal families:
- 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.
- Sumiyoshi-rengo, sometimes known as Sumiyoshi-kai: The second largest yakuza family, with 10,000 members divided into 177 clans, it is a confederation of smaller yakuza groups. Structurally, Sumiyoshi-kai differs from its principal rival, the Yamaguchi-gumi, in that it functions like a federation where the chain of command is more lax.
- Inagawa-kai: 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.
- Toua Yuai Jigyo Kumiai, sometimes called Tōa-kai: Founded by Hisayuki Machii in 1948, the Tao Yuai Jigyo Kumiai 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.
5. Current activities: Much of yakuza's current activities 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. 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 the Japanese police to interfere in internal matters in recognized communities, such as shopping arcades, and night districts. In this sense, therefore, yakuza are still regarded as semi-legitimate organizations. 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. Yakuza have been known to make large investments in legitimate, mainstream companies. Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission has knowledge of more than 50 listed companies with ties to organized crime and in March 2008, the Osaka Securities Exchange decided to expel those with Yakuza ties.[1] There is much evidence of Yakuza involvement in international crime, with many tattooed Yakuza members imprisoned in various Asian prisons for such crimes as drug trafficking and arms smuggling. 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. more... at Wikipedia
