Comments on: From the Times Online: Yakuza stalk Japanese markets as organised crime opens new front http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/ All the intriguing and seedy aspects that keep Japan running. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:12:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Guy http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Guy Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:28:54 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-117 Jake does anybody know yet where the Inagawa-kai moved to from their old HQ in Roppongi? Jake does anybody know yet where the Inagawa-kai moved to from their old HQ in Roppongi?

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Jake Adelstein Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:00:37 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-116 I like writing in Japanese because the language is so compact but English is my native language and sometimes personal things flow better that way. I think what pisses off the yakuza is when they talk about the back-room politics and the power struggles within the organizations. In some senses, the larger crime groups are like corporations--and corporations don't like their internal conflicts aired before the public. Mizoguchi's son was stabbed in 2006, when angry members of the Yamaken-gumi, unable to find the father, attacked his son instead. I like writing in Japanese because the language is so compact but English is my native language and sometimes personal things flow better that way.

I think what pisses off the yakuza is when they talk about the back-room politics and the power struggles within the organizations. In some senses, the larger crime groups are like corporations–and corporations don’t like their internal conflicts aired before the public.

Mizoguchi’s son was stabbed in 2006, when angry members of the Yamaken-gumi, unable to find the father, attacked his son instead.

]]> By: Guy http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Guy Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:12:07 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-115 Thanks for your insights about the fan mags. Good stuff. Which do you prefer writing in, English or Japanese? Indeed, from an anthropological the mags are fascinating. My pile keeps getting higher. Yakuza fan magazines indulgent, mostly true or not are a window into Japan that's considerably more stimulating than JNTO. But I guess it's an acquired taste isn't it, for the few non-Japanese that try to read them. The idea of an English language yakuza encyclopedia is very interesting. But what do you think is the market for this very narrow niche? I can imagine various law enforcement, scholars, writers, and Japan fans buying and reading it but aside from these examples what's been your experience in terms of paying customers for this genre? Can you elaborate a bit about Suzuki-san and Mizoguchi-san's "how they really make their money and their influence"? How deep do these writers dig? It's pretty clear that Yakuza are Yakuza so perhaps it's expose of their chummy katagi connections that piss them off? Thanks for your insights about the fan mags. Good stuff. Which do you prefer writing in, English or Japanese? Indeed, from an anthropological the mags are fascinating. My pile keeps getting higher. Yakuza fan magazines indulgent, mostly true or not are a window into Japan that’s considerably more stimulating than JNTO. But I guess it’s an acquired taste isn’t it, for the few non-Japanese that try to read them. The idea of an English language yakuza encyclopedia is very interesting. But what do you think is the market for this very narrow niche? I can imagine various law enforcement, scholars, writers, and Japan fans buying and reading it but aside from these examples what’s been your experience in terms of paying customers for this genre? Can you elaborate a bit about Suzuki-san and Mizoguchi-san’s “how they really make their money and their influence”? How deep do these writers dig? It’s pretty clear that Yakuza are Yakuza so perhaps it’s expose of their chummy katagi connections that piss them off?

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Jake Adelstein Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:11:05 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-114 Suzuki-san's books are quite good. I may try and do a collaboration/translation work with him for a kind of English language yakuza encyclopedia. Suzuki-san’s books are quite good. I may try and do a collaboration/translation work with him for a kind of English language yakuza encyclopedia.

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Jake Adelstein Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:10:10 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-113 Guy-san, Thanks. Yes, I read Japanese and I actually write articles in the language as well. I think Jitsuwa Knuckles should probably be taken with a grain of salt and Jitsuwa Document is probably fairly accurate. You should keep in mind that these magazines are essentially fan magazines and they are very careful not to criticize the yakuza. There are a number of journalists in Japan who make a living as "yakuza" writers. Suzuki Tomohiko and Mizoguchi Atsushi are probably the only two that dare to criticize the yakuza and write about how they really make their money and their influence. I suppose I could include myself there but I tend to write articles dealing with organized crime under a pen name (when I'm writing in Japanese). I have my reasons. Yakuza fan magazines are interesting things. In an anthropological sense as well. Guy-san,
Thanks. Yes, I read Japanese and I actually write articles in the language as well. I think Jitsuwa Knuckles should probably be taken with a grain of salt and Jitsuwa Document is probably fairly accurate.
You should keep in mind that these magazines are essentially fan magazines and they are very careful not to criticize the yakuza.
There are a number of journalists in Japan who make a living as “yakuza” writers. Suzuki Tomohiko and Mizoguchi Atsushi are probably the only two that dare to criticize the yakuza and write about how they really make their money and their influence.
I suppose I could include myself there but I tend to write articles dealing with organized crime under a pen name (when I’m writing in Japanese). I have my reasons.
Yakuza fan magazines are interesting things. In an anthropological sense as well.

]]> By: Guy http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Guy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:12:41 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-112 Hi Jake, Good looking out. I'm fascinated with angura Japan. Do you read Japanese? If so what do you think of the stories and articles in magaznines like Jitsuwa Knuckles and Jitsuwa Documento etc? Trash or not it's pretty damned interesting, a similiar medium (i.e. Mafia recruiting) would be highly unlikely in the states, and I like to slog through the stories. Hi Jake,

Good looking out. I’m fascinated with angura Japan.

Do you read Japanese? If so what do you think of the stories and articles in magaznines like Jitsuwa Knuckles and Jitsuwa Documento etc? Trash or not it’s pretty damned interesting, a similiar medium (i.e. Mafia recruiting) would be highly unlikely in the states, and I like to slog through the stories.

]]> By: Mary Lu http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Mary Lu Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:08:54 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-61 Thank you very much!!! That's what I needed. I know what you mean, I am here in Tokyo too.... Thank you very much!!! That’s what I needed.
I know what you mean, I am here in Tokyo too….

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Jake Adelstein Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:42:03 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-57 Mary Lu, Thanks for writing. You can find the book here: http://www.amazon.co.jp/ヤクザマネー-NHK「ヤクザマネー」取材班/dp/4062147785/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224790782&sr=8-1 If you can't get Amazon to send you a copy, write back and I'll find a way to get you a copy. PS. I'm not courageous--I'm just very stubborn and angry. Personally, there is at least one yakuza who scares the hell out of me. I just got tired of running. Mary Lu,
Thanks for writing. You can find the book here:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/ヤクザマネー-NHK「ヤクザマネー」取材班/dp/4062147785/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224790782&sr=8-1

If you can’t get Amazon to send you a copy, write back and I’ll find a way to get you a copy.

PS. I’m not courageous–I’m just very stubborn and angry. Personally, there is at least one yakuza who scares the hell out of me. I just got tired of running.

]]> By: Mary Lu http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Mary Lu Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:33:27 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-56 Very interesting article, Mr. Adelstein, you are very courageous. I was wondering where can I find the book Yakuza Money, I am interested to read it. 日本語　大丈夫。 Thank you very much Mary Very interesting article, Mr. Adelstein, you are very courageous. I was wondering where can I find the book Yakuza Money, I am interested to read it. 日本語　大丈夫。
Thank you very much

Mary

]]> By: Yakuza, Incorporated | BLACK TOKYO http://www.japansubculture.com/2008/09/from-the-times-online-yakuza-stalk-japanese-markets-as-organised-crime-opens-new-front/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Yakuza, Incorporated | BLACK TOKYO Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:41:36 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=49#comment-45 [...] Source [...] [...] Source [...]

]]>