I did not even know they were still around. They were said to be part of the government and big business many years ago, so I guess they just eventually blended in. That left some in the organization without much of a group to belong to. I have to add I only followed them casually, so anyone who knows more about them feel free to add or correct anything i assumed. They are to me more interesting than the Mafia, but since the mob is here in America I follow the mob.

Yakuza is weaken but not out. The Japanese laws are singling the Yakuza out which gives their competition more room and power. There is another thread on here that goes into more detail, about the other groups in Japan. The two big ones are the Koreans which many are former Yakuza, and Chinese. The outlaw biker groups are also there and have steadily gaining power and influence.

They have outlaw biker gangs in Japan? That's fucking badass.

Nah, none of them are more interesting than the Mafia to me, it's just that the American Mafia is in such sorry shape these days.

I find the movie Yakuza interesting. Frankly, "the" Yakuza I've viewed in interviews appear almost cartoonish. I'm all about prison gangs; most interesting.

Prison gangs, a bunch of men cooped up together? No thanks.

I follow the yakuza for years very interesting subculture and among the richest gangsters in the world.

Tommy Pitera went to Japan and took what he learned back to America, and kicked some asses. Killed some asses too.

The end of the Yakuza in Japan? An aging mafia fails to attract young people https://gangstersinc.org/video/the-end-of-the-yakuza-in-japan-an-aging-mafia-fails-to-attract-yo

The current laws designed to isolate the yakuza from society have been succesful. The old days are gone, but the Japanese underworld has entered a new phase, the changes have led to a rise in other criminal networks outside the yakuza.

This is such good news for Japan and the world. What the authorities have accomplished is pretty extraordinary

It's good for everybody except the Tattoo artists. Lol. I bet they are crying in their sake cups right about now! LOL

Hahahah ain't that the truth. I almost wanna start a GoFundMe for them lol

Because of their history as a legitimate feudal organization and their connection to the Japanese political system through the uyoku dantai (extreme right-wing political groups), Yakuza are somewhat a part of the Japanese establishment.

This is actually bad.

Up until recently Japan had the opportunity to keep the underworld under check. Unlike most organized crime entities around the world, the Yakuza isn’t a secret organization. It’s not illegal for them to exist. So they have offices, lists of members and associates, logos and business cards. The state knows them well because of it. They are easy to spot, tail, monitor. Ask anyone who ever had to investigate truly “submersed” criminal groups and they’d tell you that the hardest (and longest) part is figuring out who they are, their role, their culture, etc… in the meantime that organization grows.

This demise is paving the way for truly secretive organizations.

Most are of foreign origin (Triads, Koreans) and the Japanese government won’t be able to keep track of them as easily. These groups don’t keep open files and “records”. They won’t comply. Language and immigration will also play a role. Ironically, the Yakuza has spoiled the government and clouded its ability to deal with truly subversive and “invisible” groups.

I reckon the Yakuza is the lesser evil.

The involvement fo the Yakuza in the government has to have been a conspiracy theory, since they would not be making laws to weaken themselves.

^ the Mafia was entrenched in the US Govt. while the RICO Act. was being conceived.

Keep in mind that “the government” isn’t a monolithic entity.

Different factions, people and interests co-exist, clash and collude with each other.

Tattoos were taboo in Japan because of the Yakuza. Now that tattoos are seen as something mainstream their business will surely increase. Especially if the Yakuza continues its downfall. The broken link between tattoos and the Japanese Mafia means regular folks can sport them without any strange looks.

Luan I live in the United States and I have never heard that the American Mafia was entrenched in the government. It's always been the opposite with the government here cracking down on them, making laws against them, and sentencing them to long federal sentences. They follow that with not allowing them release when they are dying. Carlos Marcello was once kidnapped by agents. and the government pressured Israel to deny Meyer Lansky sanctuary there.

I’m also American.

The time period I was referring to was the golden age of the mob, pre-RICO. Not today.
Back then, their influence within the state is an unquestionable truth. Corruption was rampant.
Yet, untainted public officials, prosecutors and lawmen managed to create a legal tool to root them out of America’s institutions as well as dismantling their street operations. All at a time when the mob’s power and clout were at their peak.

You mentioned Marcello. He had massive political pull. Massive.

My point being that some rotten apples within the State can do business with organized crime while other public servers are actively working to get rid of them.

Yakuza’s involvement with govt. officials has been well documented.

Yakuza Turned Pastor Rates 10 Yakuza Scenes In Movies And TV | How Real Is It?