• Wed. Apr 24th, 2024

Japan Subculture Research Center

A guide to the Japanese underworld, Japanese pop-culture, yakuza and everything dark under the sun.

One in 10 under 40 consider the yakuza "A neccessary evil" in Japan

Younger Japanese appear less likely to regard the yakuza as a menace, and one in ten of them consider Japan’s organized crime groups to be a necessary evil, a recent…

Civically active yakuza discovered to be working for national census

It has been revealed that a member of the Kyushu-based Kudo-kai was appointed as a representative to help carry out the 2010 national census after being recommended by the city…

SDF flasher foiled at fast food drive-thru

A Saitama-based Self Defense Force human resources manager was arrested on charges of public indecency December 28 after he reportedly brought his own “mystery meat” to a McDonalds drive-thru in…

Happy New Year From All Of US At JSRC To You

It’s almost 2011 everywhere in the world. It’s the first day of the new year where I am now. 2010 was a long, hard year. It ended well. Our humble…

Happy New Year Japan! Don't bite off more than you can chew–it could be fatal. A Special Holiday Public Service Announcement

Man versus Mochi. The epic battle continues as JSRC shines the light on Japan's deadly holiday food: the sweet rice cake aka mochi. How to save yourself and your loved…

Top 10 Christmas gifts for the yakuza in your life

Christmas is almost here, but there’s still time to pick up a little something special for that gang member on your list. Here’s JSRC’s choices for ten top gifts for…

Investigation of real estate consultant murder by Goto-gumi member heats up. TMPD raids Rachi-gumi offices.

Earlier this month, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a former member of the Yamaguchi-gumi Goto-gumi (Nobuyuki Yamamoto) for killing a real estate consultant,  Kazuoki Nozaki,  in a dispute over a building…

The not-so-jolly holiday season starts for the Yamaguchi-gumi

It looks like this will be a sombre month for Japan’s biggest organised crime gang. Police announced December 11 that their yakuza crackdown efforts have, for the first time ever, forced the…

2011 Revised adult entertainment laws: What changes?

On July 6 of this year, the Diet approved proposed revisions of Japanese law regarding “adult entertainment” establishments (風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律). The laws are periodically revised as police attempt to keep up…

Gold mine 'Lolita clubs' busted in Shibuya, Toyoshima

Police have cracked down on three “Lolita” clubs in Tokyo, arresting nine members of staff under violation of anti-prostitution laws. The “delivery health”-style clubs in Shibuya and Toyoshima wards featured…