Yakuza

Yakuza

Yakuza images reveal the hierarchy that structures the organization. An obsequious flunky lights a cigarette for a gang leader, who poses with the self-conscious cool of a Hollywood villain; a human pit-bull stands with a bandana tied round his melon-shaped head. Punctuated by gaudy street posters covered in Japanese kanji, the background landscape reveals aged prostitutes, nervous salary men, and the occasional badly beaten victim: in a key image, a major altercation has evidently broken out over a game of Go.

“In terms of operating style the yakuza are not back-alley outfits; they function like large corporations. Like any major business enterprise the crime groups maintain offices that prominently display each group’s logo. Members sport lapel pins and carry business cards identifying their positions within the syndicate. Some gangs even publish their own magazines and internal telephone directories. The almost 9-to-5 normalcy of a typical yakuza member’s day contrasts with that of American ethnic crime groups, which often conduct business in out-of-the-way places and at unusual hours”. Like their counterparts in the legitimate business world, Japanese crime groups appear to be highly profitable entities. While estimating income is difficult given the largely covert nature of yakuza activities, NPA speculated that in 1989 Japanese organized Crime groups earned at least Y1.3 trillion (.6 billion at Y135=.00). Of this total, Japanese police estimate that about one-third comes from the sale of drugs (primarily amphetamines), another third derives from gambling, extortion and intervention in civil affairs and the remainder comes from miscellaneous activities. Like the Mafia, the yakuza power structure is a pyramid with a patriarch on top and loyal underlings of various ranks below him. The Mafia hierarchy is relatively simple. The capo (boss) rules the family with the assistance of his under boss and consigliore (counselor). On the next level, captains run crews of soldiers who all have associates (men who have not been officially inducted into the Mafia) to do their bidding.

The yakuza system is similar but more intricate. The guiding principle of the yakuza structure is the oyabun-kobun relationship. Oyabun literally means, “Father role”; kobun means “child role.” When a man is accepted into the yakuza, he must accept this relationship. He must promise unquestioning loyalty and obedience to his boss. The oyabun, like any good father, is obliged to provide protection and good counsel to his children. However, as the old Japanese saying states, “If your boss says the passing crow is white, then you must agree.” As the yakuza put it, a kobun must be willing to be a teppodama (bullet) for his oyabun.

The levels of management within the yakuza structure are much more complex than the Mafia’s. Immediately under the kumicho (supreme boss) are the saiko komon (senior adviser) and the so-honbucho (headquarters chief). The wakagashira (number-two man) is a regional boss responsible for governing many gangs; he is assisted by the fuku-honbucho, who is responsible for several gangs of his own. A lesser regional boss is a shateigashira, and he commonly has a hateigashira-hosa to assist him. A typical yakuza crime family will also have dozens of shatei (younger brothers) and many wakashu (junior leaders). A successful candidate for admission into the Mafia must participate in a ceremony where his trigger finger is pricked and the blood smeared on the picture of a saint, which is then set on fire and must burn in the initiate’s hands as he swears his loyalty to the family.

“In the yakuza initiation ceremony, the blood is symbolized by sake (rice wine). The oyabun and the initiate sit face-to-face as their sake is prepared by azukarinin (guarantors). The sake is mixed with salt and fish scales, and then carefully poured into cups. The oyabun’s cup is filled to the brim, befitting his status; the initiate gets much less. They drink a bit, and then exchange cups, and each drinks from the other’s cup.” The kobun has then sealed his commitment to the family. From that moment on, even the kobun’s wife and children must take a backseat to his obligations to his yakuza family.

The yakuza is an all men’s society. They do not trust women. The only visible woman in the group is the boss’ wife, called ane-san. Ane-san means “older sister.” All members give her the same respect as the boss because she is his wife. However, she does not get involved in the business. Her position in the group is the boss’ wife, and not a member of a group.

The yakuza do not trust women because they believe that women are e weak. They believe that women cannot fight like men, that women are not born to fight. To a yakuza member, the most important thing is courage. If there is a battle, you must be ready to

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