Lecture Notes: Understanding Japan’s Criminal Syndicates and the Yakuza

Overview

• Exploration of Japan's criminal syndicates, primarily focusing on the Yakuza.
• The narrative includes interactions with former and possibly current Yakuza members.
• Examination of social issues in Japan such as homelessness and crime.

Setting and Context

• Location: Osaka, specifically the Nishinari district, known for being a dangerous slum.
• Historical Background: Post-WWII influx of workers leading to overcrowding and homelessness.
• Connection to Yakuza: The Yakuza's influence on societal issues and the criminal underworld in Japan.

Personal Testimonies

• Encounter with Homeless Individuals:
  • Many homeless individuals in the area due to economic exploitation.
  • Personal stories of survival and interactions with other homeless individuals.
  • The Yakuza’s role as middlemen, exploiting both employers and employees.
  • Involvement in loan sharking, offering loans at exorbitant interest rates.

Yakuza Structure and Influence

• Former Yakuza Boss Interview:
  • Joined the Yakuza at age 18, imprisoned at 33.
  • Engaged in various illegal activities including entertainment, loan sharking, and construction.
  • Collaboration with corrupt politicians.
• Current Yakuza Operations:
  • Yakuza headquarters in Fukuoka, protected and monitored.
  • Police cannot enter without prior consent.
  • Existence of fractured Yakuza organizations due to recent laws.

Cultural and Social Impact

• Hostess Bars:
  • Insight into the functioning and cultural significance of hostess bars.
  • Described as "adult Disneyland," emphasizing interactions over physical relationships.
  • Hostess advised to "sell your heart, not open your legs."

Former Yakuza Members’ Stories

• Personal Transformations:
  • Surviving violent pasts and adapting to new lives.
  • Rituals and customs, such as self-harm to demonstrate loyalty and resolve guilt.

Conclusion

• Encounter with an active Yakuza headquarters offered insight into the life and structure of the gang.
• The complexity and influence of the Yakuza in Japanese society, past and present.
• Personal stories highlight the impact of crime on individual lives and wider societal norms.
• The curiosity about Yakuza culture remains a significant interest both within and outside Japan.