In the bustling confines of a train carriage, where strangers come and go like fleeting shadows, a chance encounter with a mysterious figure can transform an ordinary journey into a tale of intrigue and suspense. Such was the case when I found myself seated next to a formidable presence, exuding an air of quiet power and authority that sent a shiver down my spine.
Little did I know that this unassuming train ride would lead to an unexpected encounter with a member of the Yakuza, Japan’s notorious criminal underworld. Join me on this riveting journey as I recount the surreal experience of sitting next to a scary Yakuza figure and delving into a world shrouded in secrecy and danger.
The yakuza is the Japanese mafia and their name essentially means “good for nothing.” The name is believed to be drawn from the lowest hand in the Japanese card game baccara, which is similar to Blackjack. In the game, getting the cards ya-ku-sa (“eight-nine-three”) is the worst possible hand you can get.
Yakuza can refer to the crime syndicates as a whole, or to an individual gang member, who are also called gyangu (“gangster”). These are 10 of the most terrifying facts about these notorious gangsters…
Introduction: A Chance Encounter on a Train
All aboard the express train to Unexpectedville! Picture this: you’re casually minding your own business on a train, maybe scrolling through memes on your phone or having an intense staring contest with a window seat. And then, out of the blue, you find yourself sitting next to someone straight out of a crime thriller. Buckle up, because this is about to be one heck of a ride.
It all started on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. I had just finished a business meeting and was rushing to catch the last train back home. As I boarded the train and found my seat, I noticed a man sitting next to me. He had a stern expression on his face and was dressed in a black suit with traditional Yakuza tattoos peeking out from his collar.
Irezumi
One of the most noticeable ways members of the yakuza can stick out are their extensive tattoos, called irezumi. Most of the time it covers their entire torso, except for a stripe down the middle of the chest. Sometimes, it can even cover most of their bodies. The tattoos are designed to be hidden under the clothes, and the stripe down their chest allows them to open their shirt collar or wear a robe without revealing them.
The tattoo process is expensive, time consuming, and utterly painful. They aren’t done with electric needles; instead, it’s performed by hand with a needle made from steel or bamboo. The artist dips the needle in some ink and then repeatedly punctures the skin. The tattoos can sometimes take years to be completed.
There are several reasons why the yakuza embraced irezumi. First, it’s expensive, so it shows that they have money. Secondly, since it’s so painful, it shows the man is tough for sitting through hours upon hours of the process.
In recent years, the yakuza has moved away from getting tattoos because of public backlash. The yakuza also generally try to make an effort to blend in. Also, since the tattoos have gone out of favor, there are not many tattoo artists who can do the technique.
Meeting the Mysterious Yakuza Figure
As luck would have it, fate decides to spice up your commute by plopping you down next to a real-life Yakuza member. Cue the dramatic music and the sudden interest in reading the safety instructions on the seat in front of you. Initial impressions? This person could probably make a stone statue break a sweat. But hey, don’t judge a book by its cover, right?
Huge Membership
It’s tough to determine what exactly is the foundation of the yakuza, but some experts think that their lineage can be traced back to gangs of ronin, which were samurai without masters. Others think that they came from a group of grifters and gamblers dating back to Japan’s feudal era.
The yakuza is also not one big group, either. It’s comprised of several gangs called boryokudan, which means “violence groups.” As of early 2017, there were 22 recognized groups, divided into separate clans. The largest of these groups is Yamaguchi-gumi, who account for about a quarter of all yakuza members.
Yakuza membership exploded after World War II. By the early 1960s, there were 184,100 yakuza members, but that number dropped to around 60,000 for several decades. In the 1990s, they saw a resurgence and there were about 80,000 members until 2011, when their numbers started to dramatically drop. That’s when the Japanese government enacted some new laws to combat the yakuza by restricting their revenue. In late 2016, their numbers were the lowest since the National Police Agency started keeping records, at about 39,100 members.
However, this low membership number isn’t necessarily a good thing. Jake Adelstein, who is a reporter working in Japan and an expert on the yakuza, told the South China Morning Press that the drop in numbers is probably only temporary.
In December 2016, Japan legalized gambling and in about five years, casinos are expected to start opening. That’s about how long it will take former yakuza members to get a clean record. Adelstein thinks that this will create a lot of opportunities for the yakuza. They will be able to get “reformed” gang members into the casino, where they will be able to skim profits or blackmail people who lose big, which will generate huge revenue streams that will, in turn, allow the yakuza to employ more members.
Initial Fear
At first, I couldn’t believe my luck. Sitting next to a Yakuza member was not something I had ever imagined would happen to me. I could feel my anxiety levels rising as I tried to avoid making eye contact with him. Thoughts raced through my mind – “Was I in danger? Should I move to another seat?” But something inside me told me to stay put and remain calm.
Unveiling the Yakuza’s Intimidating Presence
You start to notice subtle signs that this ain’t your average Joe sitting next to you. The way they carry themselves exudes power and authority, making you silently vow to never steal their armrest. And let’s not forget the aura of mystery surrounding them – it’s like they’ve got a secret handshake with the shadows or something. Gulp.
The Godfather of Godfathers
The most infamous yakuza oyabun (chairman/boss) was Kazuo Taoka, who was the head of the Yamaguchi-gumi.
Taoka was born in a small village on the island of Shikoku. He was orphaned at a young age and sent to Kobe, where he worked in shipyards. In 1929, he started to hang out with members of the Yamaguchi-gumi and became a blood member in 1936. During this time, he got the nickname that he’d keep for the rest of his life: Kubo, which means bear. He got the nickname because he had a tendency to claw and gouge out his opponents’ eyes.
In 1936, Taoka went to jail for slashing a rival gang member to death. He was released in 1943, and found Yamaguchi-gumi in shambles because of World War II. After the war, in 1946, Taoka (then 33-years-old) became the leader of Yamaguchi-gumi after the previous oyabun died from natural causes. Taoka had an amazing gift for organization and he grew Yamaguchi-gumi to be the most dominant boryokudan in Japan.
The godfather of godfathers, as Taoka was called, died in July 1981, at the age of 68.
Breaking the Ice
After what felt like an eternity, I mustered up the courage to strike up a conversation with the Yakuza member sitting next to me. To my surprise, he responded warmly and we started talking about random topics. I found out that his name was Takeshi and he was actually quite friendly once you got to know him.
Unexpected Insights into the Yakuza Lifestyle
As the journey chugs along, you find yourself in the front row seat to some eye-opening revelations about the Yakuza’s world. Turns out, there’s more to this organization than Hollywood stereotypes and flashy tattoos. Cultural contrasts and surprising insights start unfolding, making you realize that maybe, just maybe, there’s more to this mysterious figure beside you than meets the eye. Who knew a train ride could turn into a crash course in gangster culture?
Yubitsume
Yubitsume, which translates to finger-shortening, is the act where a yakuza amputates a piece of his little finger as a way to atone for a mistake or misdeed. This act can be done either voluntarily or involuntarily. Often they volunteer as a way to avoid a larger punishment, like being kicked out or being killed (possibly by being forced to commit suicide).
It stems from a punishment that was inflicted on gamblers who didn’t pay their debts in feudal Japan. Besides causing a lot of pain, without their whole pinky, it made it difficult for the person to handle a sword. If they couldn’t handle a sword, they couldn’t defend themselves, and it would make them more vulnerable.
It was adopted by the yakuza because it might affect them in hand-to-hand combat and while handling guns, so it would discourage members from doing something wrong. There was also a benefit to the yakuza if their members are weaker, because they would need to depend on their boryokudan even more.
There are different accounts of how the ritual is done, but what stays the same is the yakuza has to do it to himself. One account of the ritual is that it’s done while their oyabun supervises. There is a cloth laid flat and the offender places his left hand on the cloth, palm up. Then, using a sharp knife, called a tanto, they cut the pinky at the distal interphalangeal joint, which is the top knuckle. Once that is done, they wrap it up and hand it to the oyabun.
Another version, which was pulled from court testimony, made the act sound a lot less ritualistic. The witness said that the boss wasn’t at the amputation and testified: “The actual procedure is to take… a little silver knife – on a table – and you pull it towards you and bend over and your body weight will snap your finger off…The finger that is severed is put in a small bottle with alcohol and your name is written on it and it is sent to whoever you’re repenting to as a sign that you are sorry.”
In 1993, a government survey found that 45 percent of yakuza members were missing part of their little finger and 15 percent had to perform the act more than once.
Yubitsume doesn’t happen as often anymore because the yakuza has been trying to blend into society, and missing pieces of your finger is a good way to stick out.
Shared Stories
As our conversation continued, Takeshi shared stories about his life in the Yakuza and the challenges he faced. I was amazed at how open he was about his past and the reasons why he had joined the organization. It made me realize that there was more to him than just his intimidating appearance.
Engaging in Dialogue with the Enigmatic Figure
Sitting next to a member of the Yakuza can be quite intimidating, to say the least. As the conversation unfolds, you might find yourself treading carefully, trying to strike a balance between curiosity and caution. Engaging in dialogue with such an enigmatic figure can reveal unexpected layers of complexity and intrigue.
Tadamasa Goto’s Liver
Tadamasa Goto is the founder of the Goto-gumi, which is a large Yamaguchi-gumi affiliated gang. When he was in power, he was one of the most dominant and successful yakuza bosses in the country, which is why he was called “The John Gotti of Japan.”
Since Goto was a notorious gangster, he wasn’t allowed to enter the United States. This presented a problem for Goto in 2001 because the 59-year-old gangster needed a liver transplant. Liver problems are pretty common among the yakuza because gangsters who run red light districts aren’t exactly known for their clean living. Also, their tattoos are so dense that it blocks sweat from exiting their body, meaning fewer toxins leave their body, taking a toll on the liver. Supposedly, liver damage is a sign of pride among the yakuza. For example, they will say things like “I drank enough to destroy three livers.”
However, due to restrictive organ transplant laws, transplants are hard to get in Japan. This led to Goto striking a secret deal where he gave the FBI information on the yakuza and he donated money to the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles in exchange for a liver transplant for himself and three of his underlings. The transplant stayed a secret until Jake Adelstein published a story about it in 2008. UCLA claimed that the men each paid $400,000 in cash for their livers and Goto donated $100,000. However, Adelstein uncovered that Goto and one of the other yakuza gangsters each paid $1 million for their livers. Also, Goto would have been number 80 on the wait list for a liver, but he managed to get a transplant in six weeks. Two other people, including the second person on the wait list, died in area hospitals around the time that Goto got his transplant.
When the UCLA Medical Center was asked about the transplants on men who were tattooed and missing pieces of their pinkies, they declined to comment.
Unlikely Friendship
As the train ride went on, Takeshi and I realized that we had more in common than we had initially thought. We both had a love for classic movies and Japanese cuisine. By the end of the journey, I had found an unlikely friend in the most unexpected of places.
Challenges and Revelations during the Interaction
Navigating the conversation with a Yakuza member presents a unique set of challenges. From deciphering subtle cues to carefully choosing your words, each moment brings forth a new revelation. As you delve deeper into the interaction, you may find yourself confronting truths that challenge your preconceived notions and beliefs.
The Yakuza are Heavily Involved in Japanese Politics and the Japanese Elite
The yakuza plays an interesting role in Japanese society. For many years, the people of Japan begrudgingly accepted that the yakuza were part of the culture, so the yakuza worked out in the open. They are also long time donors and supporters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which is a right wing party that has been in power in Japan since 1955, with the exception of five years – between 1993 and 1994 and 2009 to 2012.
Every so often, a scandal erupts when it’s exposed that a politician received money from the yakuza or one of their business-fronts. Many times, it’s not enough to ruin a career, and the politician usually doesn’t resign.
One of the biggest political scandals happened during one of the few years when the LDP was not in power. Instead, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was in power and they ran on a platform of cleaning up the government and cracking down on the yakuza. But then in October 2012, the DPJ appointed a man named Keishu Tanaka as the Minister of Justice. It turned out that he was heavily connected to the yakuza and the fact that the head of their justice system was mobbed-up shocked Japan. Tanaka resigned a few weeks later.
Besides money, another way that the yakuza help the LDP is by whipping up support in rural areas. In these areas, the campaign chiefs are yakuza who are also the head of the agricultural cooperative, called nokyo, and the nokyo are connected to yakuza-run construction companies. Many of the rice growers who are part of the nokyo also work construction jobs because they don’t make enough from growing rice. Obviously, since people in the area are depending on the yakuza to work, the yakuza can be very influential when it comes to drumming up votes for the LDP… who, again, have been in power for 57 of the last 62 years.
Closure and Unexpected Turns of Events
Just when you think you have a grasp on the situation, the encounter takes an unexpected turn. The of your interaction with the Yakuza leaves you with a sense of closure, but not without a few surprising twists along the way. As you reflect on the journey, you realize that life is full of unpredictable outcomes that can both unsettle and enlighten.
Impressions and Insights Gained from the Encounter
In hindsight, the encounter with the Yakuza leaves a lasting impression. The experience offers valuable insights into human nature, resilience, and the power of perspective. As you reflect on the lessons learned, you come to appreciate the complexity of human interactions and the importance of approaching each encounter with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
As I disembarked from the train, the memory of that encounter with the Yakuza lingered, leaving me with a mix of unease and fascination. It was a brief yet unforgettable glimpse into a world veiled in mystery and complexity, offering insights and reflections that would stay with me long after the train had faded into the distance. In the end, this unexpected journey had taught me that beneath the intimidating facade of the Yakuza lies a captivating narrative of tradition, loyalty, and a way of life that continues to both intrigue and unsettle those who dare to venture close.
Human Trafficking
According to the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, Japan has the fourth biggest GDP just behind the United States, China, and the European Union. They are one of the most technologically advanced societies and they have some of the lowest crime rates in the world. Their murder rate is only 0.3 per 100,000 people. Despite how advanced and prosperous the country is, Japan has a horrifying human trafficking problem.
Since 2001, the U.S. Department of State has released the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report measuring countries on their human trafficking problems and what steps their governments are taking to combat the problem. There are four levels: tier 1, tier 2, tier 2 watch list, and tier 3, and then there is a category for special cases. Tier 1 countries are the best at handling human trafficking. This includes countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, and many countries in Europe. Japan, on the other hand, has never been ranked higher than a tier 2 country and has dipped to tier 2 watch list in the past.
Conclusion
Sitting next to a scary Yakuza member turned out to be a life-changing experience for me. It taught me not to judge a book by its cover and to always be open to new connections. Sometimes, the people we least expect can end up having a significant impact on our lives.
The yakuza are Japan’s organised crime syndicates, similar to mafia families in the United States. With over 100,000 members across the country, the yakuza engage in criminal activities like drug trafficking, gambling, prostitution, and extortion. They are known for their strict organisational structure, elaborate tattoos, and occasional public violence.
My brief encounter with the so-called scary Yakuza member turned out to be a profound lesson in perception and prejudice. It reminded me of the importance of keeping an open mind and not letting fear dictate our interactions with others. Sometimes, the most unlikely individuals can surprise us in the most extraordinary ways.
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