Category Archives: Yakuza

The Invisible Yakuza And Those That See Them

By Jake Adelstein | Published: 22 February 2010
Maybe it seems like we glorify the yakuza on this website, and perhaps we do a little. But they are called 暴力団 (boryoku-dan –violent groups) by the police for a reason–violence is the source of their power and wealth and they do not hesitate to use it.  The following letter was sent from Sam P, [...]
Also posted in Dark Side of the Sun | 8 Comments

We take bullets very seriously. Even the fake ones. Part 1.

By Jake Adelstein | Published: 14 February 2010
A few weeks ago, I had to go apologize to a yakuza boss. Always a scary thing, especially when you’re in the wrong. He had agreed to help out with a story I was working on, and through some mishaps he ended up getting chewed out by his own boss because of it. I flew back [...]
Also posted in Dark Side of the Sun | 4 Comments

Yakuza cause stir at sumo match

By Sarah Noorbakhsh | Published: 28 January 2010
The Mainichi reported on Jan. 26 about an uproar (if it can be called that) in the sumo world after Sumiyoshi-kai members were spotted occupying ringside tomari-seki seats at the New Year’s sumo tournament on Jan. 18 in Ryogoku, Tokyo. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department spotted the head of the gang affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai [...]
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Everything I Ever Needed To Know I Learned From The Yakuza Or The Cops. Entry #02

By Jake Adelstein | Published: 27 January 2010
"Nothing is just business. Everything is personal. If you bring the war to us, we'll bring the war to you--right where you live. So don't fuck with us." And they only have to demonstrate that once for people to get the point. Expose how they make their money, get some of them arrested, pass on information to the police about their criminal activites--whether it's human trafficking or just illegal gambling--and you will quickly learn how intolerant the noble yakuza can be.
Also posted in Dark Side of the Sun | 15 Comments

Everything I Ever Really Needed To Know I Learned From The Yakuza or The Cops

By Jake Adelstein | Published: 25 January 2010
There are no small promises. You need to learn this now if you’re going to be a good reporter and if you’re going to walk in and out of our world. If you’re going to be a man. Trust is built on little promises and it can all be lost by failure to live up to them. All promises are important. Do you know the saying, 武士に二言はない--bushi ni nigon wa nai? *Literally—A samurai does not have a second word.
Also posted in Organized Crime, Tokyo Vice | 30 Comments