The yakuza are Japanese criminal organizations and members of these organizations. They have a long history and are involved in violent activities such as extortion, racketeering, and protection schemes. Yakuza culture is hierarchical and includes ritual ceremonies and distinctive tattoos. They have influence over certain aspects of Japanese society and are involved in gambling, sports, and the sex industry.
The term yakuza is used to refer to both Japanese criminal organizations and members of these organizations. The history of the yakuza can be traced back to the 17th century, making these organizations among the oldest criminal groups in the world. Many people are fascinated by the group’s culture and traditions, just as they are intrigued by the activities of the Sicilian Mafia. Within Japan, the yakuza have enormous influence over certain aspects of Japanese society and also have far-reaching authority, with the ability to influence everything from sports to business.
Yakuza can also be referred to as gokudo or “groups of violence,” and depending on which group a member belongs to, a member can perform a variety of tasks. Unlike gangsters from other companies, the organizations are also quite open about what they do. Many clans even have offices open to the public, complete with signs displaying the group crest, and they tend to dress and behave more flamboyantly than ordinary members of Japanese society.
As one might guess from the term “group violence,” many yakuza activities are violent in nature. Like mobsters around the world, these groups are involved in extortion, racketeering, protection schemes, and a variety of other activities, and most groups offer their violence for hire as well as use violence to achieve their own ends. They are also heavily involved in gambling, Japanese sports, and the sex industry in Japan.
Yakuza culture is as rigid and hierarchical as Japanese culture in general. Gangs have a well-defined hierarchy and each member of the group knows her place and is aware of how to behave when interacting with other members of the group. Yakuza commonly share various ritual ceremonies with each other, cementing their connections and bonds and highlighting their positions in the hierarchy.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of the yakuza are their famous tattoos, known as irezumi. Many of these tattoos are produced the traditional way by hand, rather than with tattoo machines, and the full body tattoos associated with organizations can take years to complete. Irezumi are also extremely ornate, with classic Japanese themes and designs often featuring the crest of the gangster’s organization. Due to their associations with the yakuza, tattoos have negative connotations in Japanese society at large, and people with visible tattoos are banned from some places.
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