Kyoto yakuza arrested for attacking unmarked cop car
Officers in an unmarked police car ran into unexpected trouble June 8 when they were approached and harassed by three members of the Kyoto-based Aizukotetsu-kai, who believed the car belonged…
Serial groper takes a tumble with victim
An Asaka city man was arrested after groping a female university student in the stairwell of her apartment building just after midnight on June 5. The 37-year-old man suddenly grabbed…
Tokyo committee aims towards establishing new anti-OG laws
July 5 saw the first session of a new committee of specialists set up by police with the aim of establishing new anti-organized crime laws. Authorities plan to hold another…
Anticlimactic weekly roundup
Excuse us for the lull, but it was the sunniest Golden Week in 25 years, and while Jake was out doing the rounds in New England and soaking up more…
Not a good week for the big guys
In unusual yakuza-related news, April 23 saw the sentencing of an ex-Yamaguchi-gumi higher up for a crime that’s worth a chuckle. According to Sankei News, You Inaba, 43, was sentenced…
Japan author sues police over ban on 'yakuza' publications
Now that April Fool’s Day is finished (at least here in Japan), we can actually post some real news! Related to the article last week about convenience stores in Fukuoka…
Fukuoka convenience stores to remove yakuza mags
Fukuoka prefectural police requested March 25 that convenience stores in the prefecture no longer stock yakuza fan magazines. Four chains have already begun removing the products from their racks, while…
Yakuza cause stir at sumo match
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…
Failed pick-up line: "I'm a yakuza boss"
Sankei News reported that a 34-year-old man was charged with rape after a rather dodgy incident where he told a woman that he was a yakuza member and forced her…