| Yakuza images reveal the hierarchy that structures | | | | must commit yubizume when his immediate superior |
| the organization. An obsequious flunky lights a cigarette | | | | gives him a knife and a string to staunch the bleeding. |
| for a gang leader, who poses with the self-conscious | | | | Words are not necessary. The origin of this practice |
| cool of a Hollywood villain; a human pit-bull stands with | | | | dates back to the days of the samurai. Removing part |
| a bandana tied round his melon-shaped head. | | | | of the smallest finger weakens the hand for holding |
| Punctuated by gaudy street posters covered in | | | | the sword. When a katana (the samurai long sword) is |
| Japanese kanji, the background landscape reveals | | | | gripped properly, the pinkie is the strongest finger. The |
| aged prostitutes, nervous salary men, and the | | | | ring finger is the second strongest, middle finger third |
| occasional badly beaten victim: in a key image, a major | | | | strongest, and the index finger does almost nothing. |
| altercation has evidently broken out over a game of | | | | With a damaged hand, the swordsman became more |
| Go. | | | | dependent on his master for protection. Today this |
| "In terms of operating style the yakuza are not | | | | ritual maiming is entirely symbolic, but it serves to make |
| back-alley outfits; they function like large corporations. | | | | a point with delinquent kobun, and it shows that the |
| Like any major business enterprise the crime groups | | | | yakuza, like their Mafia counterparts, abide by the old |
| maintain offices that prominently display each group's | | | | saying: "Keep your friends close and your enemies |
| logo. Members sport lapel pins and carry business | | | | closer." |
| cards identifying their positions within the syndicate. | | | | Like the Mafia, the yakuza in recent years have been |
| Some gangs even publish their own magazines and | | | | forced to lower their standards when recruiting new |
| internal telephone directories. The almost 9-to-5 | | | | members, and as a result some feel that they are |
| normalcy of a typical yakuza member's day contrasts | | | | neither as organized nor as powerful as they once |
| with that of American ethnic crime groups, which often | | | | were. In the past, choice recruits came from the |
| conduct business in out-of-the-way places and at | | | | traditional bakuto (gambler) and tekiya (peddler) |
| unusual hours". Like their counterparts in the legitimate | | | | classes, but today a rebel spirit and a willingness to |
| business world, Japanese crime groups appear to be | | | | commit crime for an oyabun is all that is necessary to |
| highly profitable entities. While estimating income is | | | | join the yakuza ranks. Most new members currently |
| difficult given the largely covert nature of yakuza | | | | come from the bosozuku (speed tribes), street punks |
| activities, NPA speculated that in 1989 Japanese | | | | known for their love of motorcycles. |
| organized Crime groups earned at least Y1.3 trillion | | | | This lowering of standards has led to the Japanese |
| ($9.6 billion at Y135=$1.00). Of this total, Japanese police | | | | National Police Agency adopting the term boryokudan |
| estimate that about one-third comes from the sale of | | | | ({the violent ones}) for the yakuza, lumping them in with |
| drugs (primarily amphetamines), another third derives | | | | other criminal groups. The yakuza, which treasure their |
| from gambling, extortion and intervention in civil affairs | | | | ancestral ties to the old samurai, reject the term and |
| and the remainder comes from miscellaneous activities. | | | | consider it an insult. |
| Like the Mafia, the yakuza power structure is a | | | | The origin of the yakuza is a matter of some debate. |
| pyramid with a patriarch on top and loyal underlings of | | | | Some feel that its members are descendents of the |
| various ranks below him. The Mafia hierarchy is | | | | 17th-century kabuki-mono (crazy ones), outlandish |
| relatively simple. The capo (boss) rules the family with | | | | samurai who reveled in outlandish clothing and |
| the assistance of his under boss and consigliore | | | | hairstyles, spoke in elaborate slang, and carried |
| (counselor). On the next level, captains run crews of | | | | unusually long swords in their belts. The kabuki-mono |
| soldiers who all have associates (men who have not | | | | was also known as hatamoto-yakko (servants of the |
| been officially inducted into the Mafia) to do their | | | | shogun). During the Tokugawa era, an extended period |
| bidding. | | | | of peace in Japan, the services of these samurai |
| The yakuza system is similar but more intricate. The | | | | were no longer needed, and so they became |
| guiding principle of the yakuza structure is the | | | | leaderless ronin (wave man). Without the guidance of |
| oyabun-kobun relationship. Oyabun literally means, | | | | a strong hand, they eventually shifted their focus from |
| "Father role"; kobun means "child role." When a man is | | | | community service to theft and mayhem. |
| accepted into the yakuza, he must accept this | | | | Modern yakuza members refute this theory and |
| relationship. He must promise unquestioning loyalty and | | | | instead proclaim they to be the descendents of the |
| obedience to his boss. The oyabun, like any good | | | | machi-yokko (servants of the town) who protected |
| father, is obliged to provide protection and good | | | | their villages from the wayward hatamoto-yakko. The |
| counsel to his children. However, as the old Japanese | | | | official yakuza history portrays the group's ancestors |
| saying states, "If your boss says the passing crow is | | | | as underdog folk heroes who stood up for the poor |
| white, then you must agree." As the yakuza put it, a | | | | and the defenseless, just as Robin Hood helped the |
| kobun must be willing to be a teppodama (bullet) for his | | | | peasants of medieval England. |
| oyabun. | | | | Current yakuza members fall under three general |
| The levels of management within the yakuza structure | | | | categories: tekiya (street peddlers), bakuto (gamblers), |
| are much more complex than the Mafia's. Immediately | | | | and gurentai (hoodlums). The peddlers and gamblers |
| under the kumicho (supreme boss) are the saiko | | | | trace their roots back to the 18th century while the |
| komon (senior adviser) and the so-honbucho | | | | hoodlums came into existence after World War II |
| (headquarters chief). The wakagashira (number-two | | | | when the demand for black market goods created a |
| man) is a regional boss responsible for governing many | | | | booming industry. Traditionally the tekiya, medieval |
| gangs; he is assisted by the fuku-honbucho, who is | | | | Japan's version of snake-oil salesmen, worked the |
| responsible for several gangs of his own. A lesser | | | | fairs and markets while the bakuto worked the towns |
| regional boss is a shateigashira, and he commonly has | | | | and highways. The gurentai, by contrast, modeled |
| a hateigashira-hosa to assist him. A typical yakuza | | | | themselves on American gangsters of the Al Capone |
| crime family will also have dozens of shatei (younger | | | | era, using threats and extortion to achieve their ends. |
| brothers) and many wakashu (junior leaders). A | | | | After World War II, in the governmental power void |
| successful candidate for admission into the Mafia must | | | | caused by the Occupation, the gurentai prospered, and |
| participate in a ceremony where his trigger finger is | | | | their ranks swelled. They also brought organized crime |
| pricked and the blood smeared on the picture of a | | | | in Japan to a new level of violence, replacing the |
| saint, which is then set on fire and must burn in the | | | | traditional sword with modern firearms, even though |
| initiate's hands as he swears his loyalty to the family. | | | | guns were now officially outlawed in the country as a |
| "In the yakuza initiation ceremony, the blood is | | | | result of the surrender. |
| symbolized by sake (rice wine). The oyabun and the | | | | Yakuza also satisfy the desire of would-be gun |
| initiate sit face-to-face as their sake is prepared by | | | | owners in Japan, where guns of all kinds are prohibited. |
| azukarinin (guarantors). The sake is mixed with salt | | | | Yakuza members themselves are the prime market |
| and fish scales, and then carefully poured into cups. | | | | for firearms, and they favor the sleekest automatic |
| The oyabun's cup is filled to the brim, befitting his | | | | handguns from Europe and America, often trading |
| status; the initiate gets much less. They drink a bit, and | | | | drugs for weapons. The yakuza specialize in the |
| then exchange cups, and each drinks from the other's | | | | production and sales of met amphetamine (given the |
| cup." The kobun has then sealed his commitment to | | | | frenetic pace and competitive atmosphere of |
| the family. From that moment on, even the kobun's | | | | Japanese society, speed is the national drug of choice) |
| wife and children must take a backseat to his | | | | and the yakuza frequently use it to barter with |
| obligations to his yakuza family. | | | | Western arms suppliers. |
| The yakuza is an all men's society. They do not trust | | | | The yakuza also make millions of dollars a year |
| women. The only visible woman in the group is the | | | | through corporate extortion, and the sokaiya |
| boss' wife, called ane-san. Ane-san means "older | | | | (shareholders' meeting men) are the masters of this |
| sister." All members give her the same respect as the | | | | enterprise. Sokaiya will buy a small number of shares in |
| boss because she is his wife. However, she does not | | | | a company so that they can attend shareholders' |
| get involved in the business. Her position in the group is | | | | meetings. In preparation for the meeting, the sokaiya |
| the boss' wife, and not a member of a group. | | | | gather damaging information about the company and |
| The yakuza do not trust women because they believe | | | | its officers; secret mistresses, tax evasion, unsafe |
| that women are e weak. They believe that women | | | | factory conditions, and pollution are all fodder for the |
| cannot fight like men, that women are not born to fight. | | | | sokaiya. They will then contact the company's |
| To a yakuza member, the most important thing is | | | | management and threaten to disclose whatever |
| courage. If there is a battle, you must be ready to fight | | | | embarrassing information they have at the |
| to the death, rather than lose the battle. Yakuza | | | | shareholders' meeting unless they are "compensated." |
| members must be willing to die for their boss. They | | | | If management does not give in to their demands, the |
| feel women are born to be mothers and to take care | | | | sokaiya go to the shareholders' meeting and raise hell, |
| of their husbands. This may sound old-fashioned, but all | | | | shouting down anyone who dares to speak, making a |
| yakuza members believe that women should stay | | | | boisterous display of their presence, and shouting out |
| home and take care of the children and not meddle in | | | | their damaging revelations. In Japan, where people fear |
| men's business. | | | | embarrassment and shame much more than physical |
| Another reason the yakuza do not allow women in | | | | threats, executives usually give the sokaiya whatever |
| their organization is that no one can talk about the | | | | they want. |
| group to outsiders. The yakuza do not believe that | | | | Organized crime groups in Japan -- known loosely as |
| women are strong enough to keep silent if | | | | the yakuza -- in recent years have proven to be far |
| interrogated by the police or their enemies. If anyone | | | | more than gangs of thugs that oversee extortion, |
| speaks out, that will be the end of the group. For all of | | | | gambling, prostitution and other "traditional" gangster |
| these reasons, the yakuza are a man's society. | | | | activities. Developments during the past year have |
| The yakuza have their own unique way of apologizing | | | | revealed that the yakuza, having bought up real estate |
| when they make a mistake, or do something wrong. It | | | | and stocks in the late 1980s, are playing a bigger hand |
| is called "Yubizume. " Yubizume is the act of cutting | | | | in the Japanese economy. While organized crime |
| off their little finger and giving it to the person they are | | | | groups for much of the postwar period have enjoyed |
| apologizing to. In the yakuza society, if an m ember is | | | | an unusual degree of tolerance by the Japanese public |
| jailed for any reason, he gains prestige when he is | | | | as well as the police, recent scandals involving billions |
| released from police custody | | | | of yen linked to yakuza-related firms or individuals |
| The yakuza mainly make their living through unlawful b | | | | have sounded alarms in Tokyo. There is increasing |
| businesses, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and | | | | concern in some business and government quarters |
| loan-sharking. Most of the money comes from | | | | that the Japanese underworld is developing the sort of |
| gambling, most often from dice games. Each group | | | | financial muscle that could threaten the economic |
| has its own gambling room, which is usually behind a | | | | order. |
| bar or restaurant. Food and drinks are served, but the | | | | "The exotic appearance of yakuza members and their |
| e main purpose is gambling. The group chooses the | | | | peculiar samurai-type rituals (the top of a gang |
| gamblers. If they do not know them, they cannot | | | | member's smallest digit is severed and presented to |
| gamble. The yakuza do not want the police to know | | | | his leader as atonement for a grievous error) certainly |
| about their business. | | | | distinguish the Japanese mob from underworld |
| The yakuza also make money from prostitution. They | | | | syndicates based in the United States and Europe. |
| hire young girls whose are younger than eighteen | | | | The yakuza in recent years have diversified their |
| years old. There are many ways to make a profit | | | | portfolio of illegal activities to include loan sharking, |
| from this business, but the most popular one is the | | | | company racketeering and extortion-type intervention |
| "date club." Some groups make more than a million | | | | in civil disputes and real estate transactions." |
| dollars a month from this business. The date club is a | | | | "Possibly buying into the yakuza's Robin Hood image, |
| men's club. There is a membership fee of at least one | | | | ordinary Japanese citizens at times turn not to lawyers |
| thousand dollars to join. Most of the customers are the | | | | and the courts but to mobsters to help them resolve |
| rich middle-aged men, such as doctors, lawyers, and | | | | civil disputes that would be extremely difficult, |
| company presidents. Club members are shown young | | | | time-consuming and expensive to pursue through the |
| girls' pictures to choose from, and a date with the | | | | Japanese legal system. These disputes primarily |
| chosen girl is arranged. The men then have to pay a | | | | concern private and commercial debts and personal |
| fee of about two hundred dollars for the date, and all | | | | injuries, although organized crime experts also believe |
| expenses. After the date, the customer calls the club | | | | that the mob is involved in the settlement of most |
| and tells them whether they liked the girl, and whether | | | | automobile accident cases. While the yakuza in these |
| or not they would like another date. To have sex with | | | | instances may be regarded as filling a need created |
| the girl can cost at least one thousand dollars. The | | | | by the dearth of lawyers in Japan, gangsters -- being |
| hiring of high school students as prostitutes is against | | | | outside the law -- also have been known to initiate |
| the law. However, some high school students are | | | | traffic accidents as one means of extorting money |
| willing to work as prostitutes as they can earn much | | | | from people." |
| more money than from any other part-time job. | | | | The yakuza's motives rarely are above reproach. One |
| Most of the money that the yakuza make is spent on | | | | could argue that gangsters, in fact, have learned how |
| the purchase of weapons. Each group has its own | | | | to exploit effectively the Japanese tendency to utilize |
| territory. The territory is very important to the yakuza. | | | | personal relations, rather than legal measures, to |
| When they do business, they cannot break into each | | | | resolve disputes. |
| other group's territory. If one group tries to break into | | | | This is not to suggest that Japanese police completely |
| another's territory it must be protected, usually through | | | | look the other way when it comes to the mob. Over |
| violence. | | | | the years Japanese law enforcement officials, who |
| In Japan, the general public cannot have a weapon | | | | have been admired the world over for their high |
| without a permit, but the yakuza do not respect the | | | | standard of discipline, have staged numerous raids on |
| law. Many citizens become victims of the yakuza's | | | | various yakuza offices. These assaults have tended, |
| battles. When they are fighting, each group tries to kill | | | | however, to be more a show of police muscle than a |
| the boss of the other group, because a group without | | | | genuine attempt to shut down gangster operations. |
| a boss is weak and has no power to fight. For all | | | | One of the main reasons that the yakuza can operate |
| members, the boss is God. Without him, they cannot | | | | "aboveground" is because the groups are not illegal. |
| do anything. Whoever wins the battle takes over the | | | | There are no statutes in Japan comparable to this |
| group that lost and their territory. | | | | country's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt |
| It is easy to see why the yakuza are so famous in | | | | Organizations Act of 1970. RICO authorizes U.S. law |
| many countries, and feared and hated by many | | | | enforcement officials to investigate and to ultimately |
| people. The yakuza do not follow the law. They also | | | | arrest any individual, partnership, corporation, |
| have illegal businesses, and have had many battles, | | | | association or other legal entity as well as any union or |
| which have killed innocent citizens. This continues to be | | | | group of individuals "associated in fact" for engaging in |
| one of the biggest social problems in Japan. | | | | a pattern of criminal activities in furtherance of |
| If a yakuza member displeases or severely | | | | racketeering. Organized crime experts also note that |
| disappoints his boss, the punishment is often yubizume, | | | | weaknesses in Japan's criminal law also have made it |
| the amputation of the last joint of the little finger. A | | | | difficult to prosecute the perpetrators of bribery, |
| second offense will require the severing of the second | | | | extortion, money laundering or other yakuza lines of |
| joint of that finger, and additional offenses might require | | | | business. |
| moving on to the next finger. A man knows that he | | | | |