The Crime Book

156

T

he Japanese mafia, known

collectively as the Yakuza,

comprises more than

100,000 members split into a small

number of independent syndicates.

Four syndicates – the Yamaguchi-

gumi, the Sumiyoshi-kai, the

Inagawa-kai, and the Aizukotetsu-

kai – account for the vast majority

of Yakuza members. The structure

of these syndicates is complex and

varied, but most are organized in a

pyramid structure with a oyabun

(boss) at the top, who is assisted by

a number of senior advisers, each

of whom control affiliated gangs.

The Sumiyoshi-kai is an exception

as it is made up of a confederation

of gangs.

Traces of the Yakuza date back

to the 17th century and two groups

at the bottom rung of Japanese

society. The first group, tekiya,

were market traders who peddled

their goods at festival events. Some

tekiya hired themselves out as

bodyguards to other tekiya, which

led to the establishment of

protection rackets.

The second group – gamblers

known as bakuto – set up illegal

casinos in temples on the edges of

towns and villages, and ran loan

shark operations.

Yakuza is a gambling term that

owes much to the group’s bakuto

roots: in the Japanese card game

oichokabu – in which the aim is to

reach a score of 19 with three cards

• ya means 8, ku means 9 and za
  represents 3. Together, they add up
  to 20 and form the worst possible
  losing hand. The word “Yakuza”
  became synonymous with
  something useless, which was later
  extended to refer to the gamblers
  themselves, denoting that they
  were useless members of society.

THE YAKUZA

Structure and ritual

Although Yakuza groups have been

involved in illicit activities from

their inception, it has never been

illegal to join a Yakuza group, and

they are still not regarded as

underground organizations.

In the mafia, blood relationships

are pivotal, but for the Yakuza, the

Japanese senpai-kohai, or senior-

junior, mentor system is crucial.

The system involves a foster parent

figure, the oyabun, who has

authority over his foster children,

called kobun. Historically, this

structure has provided the basis for

the relationship between teacher

and apprentice, and between

Yakuza boss and follower. In

the Yakuza, this system has

established unity, strength, and

devotion to the boss.

As in Japanese society as a

whole, ritual holds Yakuza culture

together. This is evident in the

traditional sakazuki (sake saucer)

IN CONTEXT

LOCATION

Japan and US

THEME

Japanese criminal gangs

BEFORE

16th century Kabukimono,

or “weirdo”, gangs of roaming

aristocratic samurai emerge

during peacetime in feudal

Japan. Sporting flamboyant

fashions, they brawl and cause

havoc in towns and cities.

AFTER

1950s Across Japan, groups

of teenagers form motorcycle

gangs, which fight each other

and race illegally. Police

identify them as bosozoku,

an “out-of-control tribe”.

1972 In suburban Tokyo, “K-Ko

the Razor” leads a female gang

of 50 sukeban – girls who wear

modified school uniforms and

carry chains and razors with

which they attack rival gangs.

Armed police stand guard after a

2016 raid at the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi

Yakuza headquarters. Investigators

seized boxes containing evidence of

drug trafficking activities.

154-159_Yakuza.indd 156 02/12/2016 14:43

157

ceremony, during which an oyabun

drinks sake from the same cup as

the kobun, to mark the kobun’s

entry into the Yakuza group.

Yakuza syndicates developed

stringent rules to preserve their

secrecy, ensure adherence to the

senpai-kohai system and establish

a ranking structure to determine

each individual’s status within the

group. Beneath the oyabun is the

wakigashira (underboss or first

lieutenant) and the shateigashira

(second lieutenant). The lieutenants

command the senior-ranking

kyodai (big brothers) and the lesser-

ranking shatei (little brothers). The

oyabun is also aided by the saiko

komon (senior adviser) who leads

a team of administrators, law

advisers, and accountants.

Symbolic practices

Tattoos became a hallmark of

Yakuza groups during Japan's feudal

period (1185–1603). Originally,

criminals were branded with black

ring tattoos, but the Yakuza

transformed the practice into

complex, decorative badges of

honour, which functioned as

symbols of strength, endurance, and

status. A less artistic custom, called

yubitosome, is the mutilation of

one’s own finger with a knife as

penance to the oyabun for debt or

disobedience. For a first offence, the

left little finger is removed up to

the knuckle and presented to the

oyabun. A portion of the ring finger

is excised for a second offence,

followed by the middle finger, and,

finally, the index finger. For the next

transgression, the culprit moves to

the next joint of the little finger. If an

See also: The Sicilian Mafia 138–45 ■ The Triads 146–49 ■ Hells Angels 160–63

ORGANIZED CRIME

entire finger is cut off a member’s

hand as a result of repeat offences, it

becomes known as a “dead finger.”

The modern Yakuza

At the beginning of the 20th

century, Japan underwent

extensive economic modernization.

The Yakuza expanded their

activities accordingly, organizing

labour forces of casual workers at

dockyards and on construction

sites. Yakuza bosses invested in

legitimate businesses which ❯❯

Major Yakuza syndicates in Japan

Once you make a pledge

to the gang, the only

way out is to cut

off your fingers.

Yakuza member

Yamaguchi-gumi has

approximately 55,000 members,

which makes it the largest

Yakuza syndicate. It is based

in Kobe and accounts for

50 per cent of Yakuza members.

Sumiyoshi-kai is the

second-largest syndicate.

Founded in Tokyo, there

are around 20,000

members. The leadership

is divided between

several people.

Aizukotetsu-kai

comes from “Aizu,”

a region of Japan;

“kotetsu”, a type of

Japanese sword;

and “kai”, meaning

“society”. This group

has 7,000 members.

Inagawa-kai, with

15,000 members, is

based in the greater

Tokyo area. It was one

of the first Yakuza

organizations

to operate abroad.

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