Top 5 Yakuza Facts
It's time to prove your loyalty. Welcome to WatchMojo's Top 5 Facts. In this instalment we're counting down the five most interesting facts about the Yakuza. With reportedly over 100,000 members these Japanese gangsters are perhaps the biggest organized crime syndicate on the planet.
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Top 5 Yakuza Facts
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It’s time to prove your loyalty. Welcome to WatchMojo’s Top 5 Facts. In this instalment we're counting down the five most interesting facts about the Yakuza. With reportedly over 100,000 members these Japanese gangsters are perhaps the biggest organized crime syndicate on the planet. So I guess we should tread lightly with this one...
#5: Yakuza are Punished… Physically
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If you mess up in any underground organization, you’re going to end up with more than just detention. But Yakuza tend to do things a little differently. “Yubitsume” is the act of cutting off a section of the pinky finger as a means of apology or punishment. Though it may seem a little harsh, the act is considered commonplace within the yakuza community. The freshly amputated finger is presented to one’s boss, as a means of symbolically pledging one’s fealty, and atoning for a mistake. The punishment apparently comes from the belief that without a pinky finger one would be unable to carry a katana and thus would have to rely more on their leader to protect them, or at least keep their word more often.
#4: Bosses and Subordinates Forge a Very Strong Bond
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The structure within the Yakuza is quite typical to that of any other organization, with the underlings answering to the overlings in a pyramid-like hierarchy. But things run a little deeper than that. The Bosses, or ‘Oyabun’ and the subordinates, ‘Kobun’ have a father-son bond wherein the Oyabun’s protection is exchanged for complete loyalty from the kobun. So for example, if a kobun were to fall into a financial crisis, it would be on their boss’s shoulders to sort it out. In order to symbolically establish this bond, the Kobun and Oyabun perform a ritual known as ‘Sakazuki’ in which they exchange sake cups. But how do determine whether a kobun is worthy of protection or not? Would you believe a written test? Police investigating crime organizations in Japan found a twelve-question Yakuza exam, designed to test members’ knowledge both of the rules of the gang, and of anti-gang legislation.
#3: Their Tattoos Have a Long Standing History
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From fear of being mistaken for a Yakuza member, many Japanese citizens avoid getting tattoos. This is because body art is a huge part of the gang’s culture - and it actually has a rather long running history. Back in the Edo period, from roughly 1603 to 1868, criminals were branded with a particular kind of tattooing known as “Irezumi”. This method of tattooing has become a traditional, albeit painful, means of entering the organization. By having more tattoos on their body, the member is proving not only that they have the money to afford it, but also that they have the grit to bare the painful process.
#2: Corporate Blackmail is Second Nature
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Sure the Yakuza are known for all their devious exploits like gun smuggling, human trafficking and even rigging sumo matches, but corporate blackmail is definitely their forte. Members of Yakuza factions known as “Sokaiya” dig up all manners of dirt on their targets be it shady deals, secret love affairs or otherwise. When put in this position the business leaders have little choice other than to pay up. These sokaiya interventions often cause public scandals that permanently damage execs reputations. One such example comes in the late 90s when Sokaiya members bought shares from Mitsubishi, gaining access to their shareholders meetings and threatening to reveal compromising information. The company was paying out up to 13 million yen to keep things quiet– but by time the police got involved, things were no longer on the downlow.
#1: They Actually Have Their Good Sides
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Though the previous entries may have convinced you otherwise, the Yakuza have actually proved to be quite compassionate when need be. During the 2011 Tsunami crisis in the Tohoku prefecture, Japan, it was the Yakuza who first jumped to help with the relief effort - even before the Government could. Surprisingly, they did so quietly, during the night so that their presence would not become public knowledge. Apparently carrying over 50 tonnes of food and supplies, the Yakuza proved once again to be morally ambiguous. But this wasn’t the only time, they also leant a hand during the 1995 Kobe earthquakes. Just goes to show, things aren’t always kuro and shiro...uh...black and white. So what do you think? Would you like to have a father-son bond with whoever you work for? Until next time, for more honorable Top 10s and 9-fingered Top 5s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com!
