Big bad boys ... but are yakuza numbers dwindling?
A report in a Japanese newspaper says that the number of yakuza members has dwindled. Down for the first time in ten years, in fact.
Yakuza presence appears to be comparatively light in Hiroshima. On occasions, you can see some sharp suits and darker-than-dark sunglasses prowling downtown. I seem to remember there was a shooting at the train station donkey's years ago; and about a dozen years ago (perhaps more), some mafia bigwig was shot in the city's streets. As a consequence, the building in which I worked had armed riot police stationed at each entrance. A known yakuza lived in a penthouse at the top. The riot police were there to protect him.
Seems very odd. The authorities have stats on their numbers. They have addresses for the organisations. (The Hiroshima city branch has just shy of 300 members and its headquarters is in Nihoshin-Machi, Minami-Ku. It is the fourteenth largest group in Japan). And on occasion the police are sent to protect them.
The members do get pulled in for questioning a fair bit. Processions of yakuza presenting themselves at the local courthouse were a feature in the early 90's. My commute in those days regularly included sightings of large men in garish clothing, with obsequious (but very large) henchmen in tow. They seemed to be having a bit of a laugh, acting out an already known plotline. This complacency seemed to confirm the historically cosy relationship between authorities and crime syndicates.
The numbers are down, but only by comparatively few. No end to the status quo just yet, me thinks.
For an entertaining yet ultimately depressing read about a foreigner's life with the yakuza, try Tokyo Underworld. For thorough research, I'd recommend Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld, and for an eclectic mix of stories from the seedy side of life in Japan, you can't go far wrong with Speed Tribes.
Yakuza presence appears to be comparatively light in Hiroshima. On occasions, you can see some sharp suits and darker-than-dark sunglasses prowling downtown. I seem to remember there was a shooting at the train station donkey's years ago; and about a dozen years ago (perhaps more), some mafia bigwig was shot in the city's streets. As a consequence, the building in which I worked had armed riot police stationed at each entrance. A known yakuza lived in a penthouse at the top. The riot police were there to protect him.
Seems very odd. The authorities have stats on their numbers. They have addresses for the organisations. (The Hiroshima city branch has just shy of 300 members and its headquarters is in Nihoshin-Machi, Minami-Ku. It is the fourteenth largest group in Japan). And on occasion the police are sent to protect them.
The members do get pulled in for questioning a fair bit. Processions of yakuza presenting themselves at the local courthouse were a feature in the early 90's. My commute in those days regularly included sightings of large men in garish clothing, with obsequious (but very large) henchmen in tow. They seemed to be having a bit of a laugh, acting out an already known plotline. This complacency seemed to confirm the historically cosy relationship between authorities and crime syndicates.
The numbers are down, but only by comparatively few. No end to the status quo just yet, me thinks.
For an entertaining yet ultimately depressing read about a foreigner's life with the yakuza, try Tokyo Underworld. For thorough research, I'd recommend Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld, and for an eclectic mix of stories from the seedy side of life in Japan, you can't go far wrong with Speed Tribes.
posted by jh at 10.2.06
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