Yakuza news

Court upholds prison sentence for Kudo-kai boss over tax evasion

https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime...ence-for-kudo-kai-boss-over-tax-evasion/

5 yakuza nabbed over Kawasaki shooting that targeted rival boss

https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime...asaki-shooting-that-targeted-rival-boss/

Chiba: 3 yakuza arrested for murder of man whose corpse found in cistern

https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime...er-of-man-whose-corpse-found-in-cistern/

Through eyes of ‘misfits,’ yakuza films show social absurdities

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14191658

Death sentence sought for head of violent yakuza gang Kudo-kai

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14109241

Police on alert as yakuza, ‘scouts’ continue turf war in Kabukicho

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13882204

NPA: Yakuza membership down for 16th straight year
BY TOKYO REPORTER STAFF ON APRIL 12, 2021
TOKYO (TR) – Membership in Japanese criminal syndicates dropped for the 16th straight year in 2020, the National Police Agency said last week.

On April 8, the NPA said membership in such syndicates totaled 25,900 at the end of last year, a figure that is down by 2,300 over the year before.

In breaking down the total, there were 13,300 full-time members, a decrease of 1,100 over the year before. The number of associate members dropped by 1,100 to 12,700.

By gang, the Yamaguchi-gumi remained the largest with 8,200 members after losing 700 over the year before. Ranking second and third were the Sumiyoshi-kai (4,200) the Inagawa-kai (3,300).

The NPA has said in the past that the steady decline in membership is due to the enactment of anti-gang legislation and crackdowns on gangs’ money-making activities.

“State of conflict”
The NPA also said that there were nine violent incidents between the Yamaguchi-gumi and its chief rival, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.

In January of last year, the public safety commissions of six prefectures, including Aichi and Hyogo, designated the pair as being “in a state of conflict.” In 10 prefectures, the actives of the gangs are heavily restricted.

“We will prevent the continuation of the incidents to ensure the safety of citizens,” an NPA official said.

Coronavirus hardships
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have revealed that bars and restaurants in the capital are now more reluctant to pay what is known as mikajimeryo (or “protection money”) due to hardships brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

An investigative source tells the Sankei Shimbun (April 8) that at least 20 such establishments have stopped payouts to gangs altogether. They cited “a drop in sales due to pandemic” as the reason for not paying the gangsters.

“We would like [the establishments] to consult with us about taking this opportunity to sever ties with gangsters,” a representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police said.

British Columbia (BC) RCMP FSOC dismantle Japanese Yakuza cartel and China-linked organized crime operation in BC

https://bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2087&languageId=1&contentId=76741

which yakuza clan belonged Shimizu Jirocho (1820-1893)? he's considered the first known yakuza boss but he isn't part of Aizukotetsu-kai founded in 1868 and considered the oldest yakuza group still active

He founded the Shimizu clan.

Shimizu family sixth generation succession problem
In 1966, Jirocho Shimizu's 5th generation, the ``legitimate Shimizu family,'' was dissolved, and in 2007, Yasuo Takagi , the second leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi Mio - gumi, revived it as `` An article was published in a weekly magazine that he would succeed to the name as "Sixth Generation " .

I always liked that when there is a regime change they call it the next generation.
Like the current Sixth (generation) Yamaguchi-gumi.

And the Japanese judge attends the trial on the state-mafia negotiation

He took notes throughout the hearing and listened to the interrogation of a Mafia repentant with the help of an interpreter. For Satoru Uchida , 38, a judge of the Tokyo Supreme Court , it is the first organized crime trial . In service at the research office, he has been in Italy for months to understand how our judicial system works .

After the stops in Rome and Florence yesterday he took part in the debate on the State-Mafia negotiation in Palermo . A completely new world for Uchida who was a criminal judge in Fukushima before arriving at the Supreme Court. “ I had never heard of this story – he explained to reporters – I followed the cross-examination of the collaborator of justice, but I understood very little “.

From the jokes exchanged on the sidelines of the hearing it is easy to understand that the Japanese procedural system is very different from the Italian one . Just think of the average length of criminal trials. “ In the first instance – he explains – a hearing lasts about three months: and overall, a maximum of 6 months to a year pass until the final sentence is given “. “ In Japan – he says – there are about 5,000 judges, but only 20,000 lawyers and litigation is very limited ”. When asked if the Yakuza, the strong Japanese mafia, has infiltrations in politics and institutions, Uchida replies with a smile: " we don't know. As it has never happened that crime has dealt with the state". “They can make agreements with each other – he explains – between criminal factions, but not with the institutions ". In Japan there is not even a differentiated prison system, such as the Italian 41 bis, for bosses. Nor videoconferencing born in Italy to avoid the so-called judicial tourism of the mafia bosses. “ It would not be fair – he says – for the defendants. We are thinking about it for witnesses to save time and money ."

I doubt, as Uchida said, that Yakuza has not links with politicians and Institutions

interesting video

The JP government will regret its strict anti-Yakuza stance and the slow demise of that traditional criminal subculture. They void left will be filled by lawless gangs and more secretive groups that won’t abide to the rigid rules of Japanese society and thus will be less controllable. The Yakuza was an open book. They weren’t a secret society like the Triads or the Mafia in the west. The government had the right to access to their membership files at any given moment. It wasn’t difficult to spot them and track their ranking. Not to mention their adherence to Japanese strict gun laws.

Yes pushing them underground will also make them less transparant, but they would still make money and corruption will still be there.

Nintendo’s Forgotten History With the Japanese Mafia

Nintendo wasn't always the family-friendly video game company people know today. It has an obscure history with the Japanese Yakuza.

https://www.cbr.com/nintendo-japanese-yakuza-history/

Kita-Kyushu sheds image as city gripped by yakuza violence

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14831166

Don't forget that Japanese society still has a fairly strong "social class" undercurrent. Almost 90% of Yakuza members are either "burakumin" (who are descendants of Japanese people who had to do the "dirty jobs" during the feudal era) or "zainichi" (descendants of Koreans who migrated to Japan more than a hundred years ago). Others can be disgraced former lawmen, school dropouts, etc... Basically the Yakuza are an organization for people who find that they have no place in the general Japanese society. No matter a strict anti-Yakuza stance, all of these people still exist and will continue to exist and they will continue to be frustrated. I don't think outlawing Yakuza is gonna do much good. Underground societies will always exist and with a strict anti-Yakuza stance they will have no control over them.

True. Although official membership in Japanese criminal syndicates dropped for the 18th straight year, it doesn't say much about the real numbers. They used to keep member lists so it was no secret and showed their power in public that has changed they have become much more secretive and low profile now.

Tokyo Vice on HBO is pretty good.

Yakuza member with an impressive Tosa Inu.

Cool pic. Thanks

I love those dogs I have an apartment in the city now when I buy a house in the country I want a Tosa, Mastino Napolitano or Bordeaux dog.