What is Yakuza?
The Yakuza is an organized crime group in Japan. They are a very prominent group with around 110,000 members, that are still around today. They can be distinguished by lavish tattoos covering their entire bodies, from their mid-calf, to below their elbow, all the way up to their neck. They commonly wear tight fitting suits, pointy toed shoes, and long pomaded hair. Another sign of a Yakuza The Yakuza are somewhat of social outcasts. In a country where conformity is valued, the Yakuza certainly stand out. Even their name means 8, 9, 3, which is a losing hand in a Japanese card game. The Yakuza highly value discipline, and respecting and following orders of a superior is very important. When a member has messed up, they will often cut of the last joint on one of their fingers (usually the pinky), and give it to a leader. This is called yubizume. This is another clear sign of a yakuza member. The Yakuza are more accepted in Japan than organized crime is in America. The Yakuza even have a long standing political alliance with members of right-wing nationalists. Its not uncommon to see a Yakuza member on the street conducting business. The Yakuza influence stretches beyond Japan borders, and even into the U.S.
The Yakuza structure is much like that of a mafia. There is a Oyabun-Kobun relationship, which literally means father role, and child role. This means that a new member swears obedience to their boss, where in return, the "father" provides protection for their "child". Their is actually a complex level of management. There is a supreme boss, a senior adviser, a headquarters chief. There's a regional leader, and assistant regional leader, and lesser regional leaders. Initiation is very serious, and when you're through it means all else takes a back seat, including a members wife and kids.
The Yakuza structure is much like that of a mafia. There is a Oyabun-Kobun relationship, which literally means father role, and child role. This means that a new member swears obedience to their boss, where in return, the "father" provides protection for their "child". Their is actually a complex level of management. There is a supreme boss, a senior adviser, a headquarters chief. There's a regional leader, and assistant regional leader, and lesser regional leaders. Initiation is very serious, and when you're through it means all else takes a back seat, including a members wife and kids.