Comments on: The Invisible Yakuza And Those That See Them http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/ 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: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1237 Jake Adelstein Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:14:53 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1237 I have grave doubts about the validity of crime statistics as they are reported. I'd love to see someone do an alternative count but I don't know how it could be done. I have grave doubts about the validity of crime statistics as they are reported. I’d love to see someone do an alternative count but I don’t know how it could be done.

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1236 Jake Adelstein Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:14:05 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1236 I think directly intervening in a yakuza quarrel is highly risky for a foreigner and probably not advised. Most yakuza carry knives and they know how to use them. I would say if you possibly can, call the police. They often will do their job and do it well. Sometimes, sometimes they don't--because the yakuza are scary and they fight intensely. Unless you're a martial arts wizard, don't take on more than one yakuza. Fighting, in general, is best avoided. Sometimes, though, you have to take a stand. But still my advice is when seeing the yakuza victimizing someone is to call the police and document what happened if you can, or at least pay attention. I think directly intervening in a yakuza quarrel is highly risky for a foreigner and probably not advised. Most yakuza carry knives and they know how to use them. I would say if you possibly can, call the police. They often will do their job and do it well. Sometimes, sometimes they don’t–because the yakuza are scary and they fight intensely. Unless you’re a martial arts wizard, don’t take on more than one yakuza. Fighting, in general, is best avoided. Sometimes, though, you have to take a stand. But still my advice is when seeing the yakuza victimizing someone is to call the police and document what happened if you can, or at least pay attention.

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1234 Jake Adelstein Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:07:54 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1234 I think society is growing less and less tolerant. But rather than a military presence Japan needs better lawas for dealing with organized crime. I think society is growing less and less tolerant. But rather than a military presence Japan needs better lawas for dealing with organized crime.

]]> By: Jake Adelstein http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1230 Jake Adelstein Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:04:47 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1230 Thanks for sharing that. I had right-wingers throw a full can of beer at my head once in Saitama, near the Kencho. I opened it and drank the beer in front of them. It was delicious. Of course, there were about five cops standing between me and them so you can say it wasn't a very brave thing to do but I did enjoy the moment. I did spray myself with a little of the beer, so it wasn't as cool as a moment as it could have been but still, ya know. Thanks for sharing that. I had right-wingers throw a full can of beer at my head once in Saitama, near the Kencho. I opened it and drank the beer in front of them. It was delicious. Of course, there were about five cops standing between me and them so you can say it wasn’t a very brave thing to do but I did enjoy the moment. I did spray myself with a little of the beer, so it wasn’t as cool as a moment as it could have been but still, ya know.

]]> By: inNOVA http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 inNOVA Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:12:49 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1219 Interesting article and it brought back a scene for when I lived in Aichi. I was around the JR Nagoya Station that day, and at the front of the station, nearer to the Kintetsu Dept. Store was parked one of those rightist sounds trucks, with a speaker atop it, haranguing the passerby's and those few who stood listening. While I was watching, a man came up and voiced his uncomplimentary opinion about what was being said and about rightists in general. He was immediately given a 袋たたきbeating by members of the group standing in front of the sound truck; and also, no one intervened. Interesting article and it brought back a scene for when I lived in Aichi.
I was around the JR Nagoya Station that day, and at the front of the station, nearer to the Kintetsu Dept. Store was parked one of those rightist sounds trucks, with a speaker atop it, haranguing the passerby’s and those few who stood listening.
While I was watching, a man came up and voiced his uncomplimentary opinion about what was being said and about rightists in general. He was immediately given a 袋たたきbeating by members of the group standing in front of the sound truck; and also, no one intervened.

]]> By: wunelle http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 wunelle Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:04:11 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1198 Does Japan have no military apparatus that could assist the police in curbing organized crime? Or is it just too widespread now? Maybe like the Italian Mafia in the US, people in the places where the Yakuza are active find them to be a sometimes-positive presence. I'm intrigued that society seems to have no recourse but to tolerate--and, to whatever extent, be held hostage by--an entrenched criminal culture. Does Japan have no military apparatus that could assist the police in curbing organized crime? Or is it just too widespread now? Maybe like the Italian Mafia in the US, people in the places where the Yakuza are active find them to be a sometimes-positive presence.

I’m intrigued that society seems to have no recourse but to tolerate–and, to whatever extent, be held hostage by–an entrenched criminal culture.

]]> By: MMK http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1189 MMK Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:11:01 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1189 You have clearly had some incredible and scary life experiences, Jake. While I'd never want to glorify criminal life, it certainly makes for interesting reading. I am curious, what theoretically would happen if a naive foreigner had intervened in a situation like you described (obviously unaware of whom and what he was dealing with)? I noticed a few dodgy incidents in my time in Tokyo, but didn't get involved since at that point there hadn't been any physical altercation (I loitered around just to make sure ... I know, probably not a smart thing to do). I don't think they were actual yakuza, perhaps just junior wannabes, but I certainly wouldn't have had the experience to differentiate either way. I guess I ask this because in spite of your own warnings about not trying to be a hero, I'd feel compelled to do the right thing regardless of consequences. I think most decent people would, and certainly wouldn't think beyond the moment about repercussions until it was too late. Is that just being stupid? Cheers, I enjoy reading the stories here -- yakuza related or not. You have clearly had some incredible and scary life experiences, Jake. While I’d never want to glorify criminal life, it certainly makes for interesting reading. I am curious, what theoretically would happen if a naive foreigner had intervened in a situation like you described (obviously unaware of whom and what he was dealing with)?

I noticed a few dodgy incidents in my time in Tokyo, but didn’t get involved since at that point there hadn’t been any physical altercation (I loitered around just to make sure … I know, probably not a smart thing to do). I don’t think they were actual yakuza, perhaps just junior wannabes, but I certainly wouldn’t have had the experience to differentiate either way. I guess I ask this because in spite of your own warnings about not trying to be a hero, I’d feel compelled to do the right thing regardless of consequences. I think most decent people would, and certainly wouldn’t think beyond the moment about repercussions until it was too late. Is that just being stupid?

Cheers, I enjoy reading the stories here — yakuza related or not.

]]> By: Scott http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/02/the-invisible-yakuza-and-those-that-see-them/comment-page-1/#comment-1188 Scott Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:30:03 +0000 http://www.japansubculture.com/?p=885#comment-1188 Any thoughts on how the media or an NGO could calculate the real crime rate in japan? I have heard so many bystander crime accounts that I am suspicious if the serious crime rate isn't as high or higher than a typical american city. A friend of mine living in Kachidoki had police detectives come to his bank office about 10 years ago. The Japanese man living above his apartment was murdered, and the police wanted to know if he had heard or saw anything. Amazingly after carrying the body out in a bookshelf the gang had lived in the victims apartment for 2 weeks. My friend scanned the newspapers for weeks and it was never reported. Are these cases included in the official police statistics? I've also had a warning from my daughters' school last year of a predator. A friend of mine had his child driven to school by an unknown man as described in his blog. http://martialartsdigest.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html There are also many many robberies and break-ins in apartments and houses in Tokyo. It would be great if a media outlet would embarrass the japanese police by proving that the crime statistics they report are completely inaccurate, and this would also help the public to be more aware of the precautions they need to take. From the insight in your book it would appear that no major newspaper would be willing to really confront the police on this issue. Any thoughts on how the media or an NGO could calculate the real crime rate in japan? I have heard so many bystander crime accounts that I am suspicious if the serious crime rate isn’t as high or higher than a typical american city.

A friend of mine living in Kachidoki had police detectives come to his bank office about 10 years ago. The Japanese man living above his apartment was murdered, and the police wanted to know if he had heard or saw anything. Amazingly after carrying the body out in a bookshelf the gang had lived in the victims apartment for 2 weeks. My friend scanned the newspapers for weeks and it was never reported. Are these cases included in the official police statistics?

I’ve also had a warning from my daughters’ school last year of a predator. A friend of mine had his child driven to school by an unknown man as described in his blog.
http://martialartsdigest.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

There are also many many robberies and break-ins in apartments and houses in Tokyo.

It would be great if a media outlet would embarrass the japanese police by proving that the crime statistics they report are completely inaccurate, and this would also help the public to be more aware of the precautions they need to take. From the insight in your book it would appear that no major newspaper would be willing to really confront the police on this issue.

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