culture:backside:boso-zoku

[moyashi]

The boso-zoku also referred to in the past as the "?? Nari-zolu ??" are also an interesting segment of the Japanese backside culture.

The boso-zoku are normally young boys between the ages of 14-21. Although 20 is the official adulthood age in Japan, some leaders continue until they can find the next leader to hand over control of the group to.

Most of these boys have minimal schooling with some having even dropped out of junior high school. (Schooling will be another thread).

boso-zoku like to drive extremely slowly (10-20 km) even on highways.
boso-zoku will also be agreeable to have it out with you if you have any complaints about their driving.

90% of boso-zoku don't have a drivers license or even a registered vehicle. (driving age in Japan is 18 with the condition or have graduated or dropped out of high school).

They love driving in packs with at least 3-6 motorcycles to protect the vanguard and the rear. With a car count of 2-5. Hokkaido is back to reality lately!

The police do go on boso-zoku clean up campaigns, but these are seriously hilarious with a mini k-car (500cc) chasing after a big sedan (3+liter) were the sedan drives slow enough for the police to follow. Down south since there have been many incidences of boso-zoku crashing through toll booths ... efforts have increased but still ... 30-40 cars versus 3-4 patrol cars is just too much to watch as a serious crime prevention effort on the police's part.

Why .... ... don't ask me!!! I roll over in laughter when I watch the police follow a group with the police on their horns telling them to pull over ... like they would really be so willing to ruin their night out?

10 years ago they were very strong in numbers. Here in Sapporo, a battle was fought out at the wharf with an unaccountable number of motorcycles and with 150 cars versus a 75 car team (5 passengers per car) ... that night luckily only 1 boy died. Still, various hospitals were busy stitching and bandaging wounds from "lead pipes, baseball bats, and wooden swords".

Recently Sapporo only suffers from 3-6 bikes and 3-6 car teams.

boso-zoku teams are normally backed with yakuza sponsorship. Each boso-zoku team has a yakuza gumi (errr family ... if I may borrow from the Italian usage) who also have the luxury of providing spending money and problem-solving. IF 2 teams get too wild and have too many fights, the yakuza gumis will gather to discuss what should be done. Thereby keeping the police out.

At the age of 20, most kids graduate and move on to hard labour jobs such as construction work and truck driving while the more hardcore members will graduate and join the sponsoring yakuza gumi.

Aren't their any girls in the teams?
Nope! they have their own organization and rules.
They go along with the boys and later will graduate to similar jobs and/or marry a yakuza.
The girls are called "ladies" with their Hokkaido counter-parts called "pinko's" ... pinko might have come from a TV talento "Izumi Pinko" but ... I haven't been able to track that done for sure yet.

Hehe... yep, I have a bunch of graduate boso-zoku friends! Actually just played a double-header game with a whole slew of them. LOL ... ex-girlfriend broke up with me (well, errr, at least one of the reasons) because of my associations with this baseball group. LOL ... they all work as carpenters, plumbers, road construction now ... poor as hell ... but a pretty well-mannered crew if you ask me!


Oops, another long-winded thread!

 

[Yair Lahav]

Moyashi,

Where did the parents disappear from this picture?

 

[larry_s]

So girls form similar groups. Which kind of activities do they engage in?

 

[moyashi]

@parents
Good Question!
Some don't know. Some don't care. Some hope it's a passing phase. Some can't deal with unruly kids I guess and hope that their kids will wisen up. This could end being another thread on parenting. So, I'll stop.

@girls groups
Hmmm ... shoplifting, fighting between teams, raping other girls.
Basically, they get together, hang out, work in the Soap district, or sniff thinner and do drugs at times.

Not a pretty picture is it.

 

[larry_s]

So Japanese youngsters aren't so different from their Western counterparts after all...

 

[moyashi]

No they aren't at all.

Just thank goodness these bands of restless boys are no where like the drug gangs back in the States.

 

[deborah gormley]

The girl gangs are as bad as the boys, and then thet could all get married and live so called normal lives and pretend that this never happened, wow!!, now thats the scary bit, Is it illegal to be a member of these groupes? or because the members are so young are they dismissed as children and get a slap on the wrist?

 

[thomas]

I'd say that "membership" in such groups is not illegal as long as the whole group is not illegal. If one or more of them commit criminal acts, then they'll be held responsible individually.

As for juvenile crimes: Moyashi will know more about that, but juvenile laws have been revised not so long ago. I remember there's a whole section at this forum focusing on that topic...

:

 

[moyashi]

Juvenile crimes are definitely on the up (or at least in the news).

The stories I've heard regarding the Ladies are pretty wretched. The boys are pretty simple and stick o fighting.

Police and Boso-zoku
Here's a pretty typical situation::::
the Boso-zoku are out for a typical parade drive. The police decide to get a little frisky and snag a boy riding a motorcycle (lol ... ones in cars getaway always, it seems). The boy gets pulled to the station, a guardian or parent shows up and apologizes, the police reprimand the boy and the adult. The boys unregistered bike gets returned as long as it wasn't stolen. The boy, since he's a juvenile, gets no punishment. And still can get a license as scheduled.

Pretty cool, eh!

 

[deborah gormley]

Just read some of the issues on the forum Thomas recommended, and now I am getting whats happening.



Surely there must be a tougher way of dealing with the Bosozoku gangs, where I live we have an (armed) gang which sorts out all the nasty boys which steal cars, then they burn them to conceal fingerprints ect; and as for the young bike riders, we have very few, because they are more frightened of the (armed) gangs than they are of the police, the police arrest and charge the nasty youths with theft and/or driving without a licence and anything else they can pin on them. Still, the people's gang (I don't know any other way to describe them), get revenge for crimes to their people, which could consist of anything (depending on the crime) from a beaten to a "leave the country" notice, I would not wish that on your country of course. Still, here it proves to be a deterrent from crime.


Hope that made sense, and I went off on a tangent. lol

 

[moyashi]

The police aren't serious enough to stop the boso-zoku. I wonder if it's bribe money from the yakuza or just allowing social pressure relief for rebels?

I'm American, but interesting ... I wonder if Japan is my country now?

lynch mobs and vigiantes ... hmmm ... yes much more scary than the police. Not nice but definitely a detereant.

tangent ... hehe ... been trying my best to stay on the issues here at these forums since I'm a pro at that

 

[deborah gormley]

hmm bribe money that sounds realistic, or maybe its a case of "let them go, and they will destroy each other" hmmm or the thought of reprisal from such notorious gangs gives them goosebumps, now I've got too many options here Lolol, ah well I'll work it all out soon with your wide knowledge and your patience,


Moyashi can't believe your American. You belong in Japan with the best of them.

 

[moyashi]

I grew up near the Canadian border and watched Canadian TV a lot. I wonder if that has helped in my salvation from the American curse.

Thanks for the kind words.

hehe ... OSEIJI (oh-say-G) = polishing the apple / giving praise to a person


@topic
Yes, I'm pretty sure all those play apart of why the police don't get serious.
Unless, they're jsut plain lazy ???

 

[thomas]

It seems that at least one city takes a stance against bosozoku.

Hiroshima Pref stiffens ordinance on motorbike gangs

=> japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=2&id=243071

Hiroshima takes aim at 'bosozoku'

The revised ordinance, enacted Tuesday and taking effect April 1, is Japan's first aimed at breaking ties between biker gangs and underworld syndicates by imposing penalties, including imprisonment, on those who use the yakuza to force young people to join biker gangs, according to the assembly.

The new ordinance forbids coercing people to join such gangs and obstructing those who did from leaving. It also prohibits gangs from associating with designated underworld syndicates and bans the mob from collecting money from the gangs.

Those who violate the ordinance will be subject to a maximum of six months in prison and a maximum penalty of 300,000 yen.

=> japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20021218a9.htm

Who will have the guts to enforce the bill?

 

[deborah gormley]

Hmm, there's no excuse for being lazy now!! the police in that perfecture are now being given no choice but to arrest and prosecute these gangs, I do hope they know what they are doing, it sounds pretty dangerous to me, I also hope that the bosozuku dont decide to go on the "attack to survive" mode and it all gets dealt with in an orderly and safe manner

 

[Hairyneville]

Send in the angry postal workers. That'll sort 'em out. . .

 

[thomas]

Here's another one on bosozoku:

Gang tortures boys with wasabi, chili peppers

A gang of 10 Tokyo youths has been busted for brutally torturing members of a rival group -- with wasabi, mustard and other hot sauces, police said Thursday.

The arrested 18-year-old high school student and fellow members of his biker gang group reportedly tried to squeeze money from seven youths they ambushed on the street of Tokyo's Koto-ku last year.

Police said the group confined the seven victims in cars after accosting them at around 4 a.m. on May 29. They then falsely accused the boys of stealing a motorbike from a member of their gang and demanded 2.7 million yen in compensation.

Over the next four hours, the student and nine others tortured the captured youths by forcing them to eat large amounts of wasabi, mustard and chili peppers and stuck adhesive tapes over their mouths. They also squeezed wasabi and mustard into the victims' noses and dropped chili sauce into their eyes.

=> mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20030123p2a00m0dm006000c.html

 

[deborah gormley]

@haireyneville, hahaha
@boso-zoku, now that's torture!!

 

[thomas]

I found an interesting Japanese site about bosozoku (translate it with Excite.co.jp's tool), expanding on their criminal activities as well as their right-wing connections

=> Bosozoku

暴走族と私

日本に初めていた時、夜寮の外の道路からテキサスのイナゴのようなブンブンという音が聞こえてきた。「それは何だろうか」と思って、窓からのぞくと５０台の車とバイクの行進が見えた。改造車は反対車線も走り、うしろのバイクはよく尻捲りをしていた。ライダーは変な特攻服やお祭りのような制服を着ていた。「バイクギャングかな？」と思い興味を持った。そして私は暴走族の研究をすることにした。

ヤンキーと暴走族の人達

日本は四十年間に渡り、オートバイのグループがありましたが、８０年代には暴走族というものが多くなりました。暴走族はスピードや危険な運転が好きな若者達です。大抵、暴走族に入りたい人は学校の成績が悪く、社会人になりたくない人です。この時代のニュースタイルは「ヤンキー」と呼ばれ、ある中学生と高校生がこのスタイルに興味を持ち、髪の毛の色を変えて、「学ラン」という改造された制服を着ていました。学校へ行く代わり、バイトと暴走族のことしかやりません。暴走族は大体男の人ですが、女の人のグループ(レディース)もあります。

暴走族の活動

暴走族はどんなグループでしょうか。暴走族の人達には、仕事や学校ではなくグループの活動が一番必要です。一緒にドライブをするし、普通の車とオートバイを改造するし、夜ナンパするし、友達とたまり、こういうふうに時間を過ごします。改造車はマフラーがないか改造されたから、早いより、すごくうるさいです。８０年に暴走族はかなり強力なバイクが好きでしたが、最近スクーターは一番人気があるらしいです。目立つは興奮より大切になっていると思う。私が見た暴走族は一回もないレースをしませんでした。名古屋の市内暴走族は面白い歌える警笛で「信号閉鎖」（普通の車に警告する）として、バイクは危なそうなジグザグ運転をしていました。「ライダーチェンジ」（運転しながらドライバーは後ろに座っていた人とスイッチをすること）は私にとって信じられませんでした。それ以外、５０台の車とバイクのエンジン音は不思議なミュージックになりました。その不思議な音は一緒に合わせ、ブンブンとしているイナゴの群れか武装ヘリコプターの音を思いおこしました。それが強烈な経験になりました。

グループのスタイル

暴走族のグループではよく特別な制服にグループの名前とほかのことを書きます。色々なスタイルの制服があります、例えば戦闘服と特攻服とお祭りのような制服です。暴走族は変でこわいことが好きですから、昔の神風とか右翼とかヤクザとかアメリカの「へルーアンジエール」のような服を着ます。ギャングの名前もおかしいです。古くて、悪そうな漢字をよく使います。例えば、「黒」と「鬼」と「龍」と「死」という漢字は暴走族によく使われます。英語も使います。古い京都のグループは「魔風威夜」と言いました。漢字に意味はなかったけど、イメージがこわくて、読み方は「マフイア」(英語でMafia)、つまりイタリアの暴力団の名前です。何よりも暴走族は目立つが大好きで、一般人に見られたがっているので、こわいイメージを与えます。

暴走族と犯罪

暴走族は大抵一般人に危なくないけど、犯罪を起こす時もあります。例えば、十年前毎日新聞の編集者は暴走族に殺されました。日本の新聞の記事によると、編集者は被害者だったが、社会学者の佐藤いくや先生の「Kamikaze Biker」という本によると、最初に編集者が暴走族の人を攻撃したそうです。でも、暴走族の犯罪をおこさないわけではありません。1999年広島でたくさんの暴走族がアメリカの軍人を攻撃しました。暴力以外、暴走族はオートバイや車などをぬすみます。警察によると暴走族の悪い犯罪の原因はヤクザの影響のせいと言いますが、佐藤先生は大分の暴走族はヤクザが嫌いと書いています。暴走族にとって、ヤクザに入るひとは精神が弱くて、入ることは「かたをはめられる」といわれます。それといっても、佐藤先生は１９８３研究をしました。バブルの後、日本の経済が悪くなって、このせいで、弱くなったヤクザは暴走族と一緒商売をしているそうです。この理論では、暴走族はヤクザにお金をあげて、麻薬等を買って、暴走族をやめるとヤクザに入るそうです。けれども、暴走族の犯罪はよく誇張されています。警察はヤンキーに見える人とか、暴走族をやめた人とか、オートバイを乗る若者とか、暴走族の一員の犯罪などはすべて暴走族の犯罪だと呼びます。つまり、暴走族についての記事では、誇張が多くて、本当の犯罪は大体交通違反だけです。

日本と暴走族：社会問題？

暴走族は日本の社会の一部分です。学校と社会人のことに興味がない若い人は暴走族に入ります。暴走族の文化では、成績と日本の法律の代わりに、刺激と遊ぶことが大切です。暴走族は普通の日本の社会と違うけれども、暴走族には日本の文化が見られます。グループのことは暴走族にしても、必要ですから、同じ服を着たり、暴走族のリーダーに服従をしたり、グループの特技(運転する)をよく練習したりすることです。暴走族はあまり変じゃないですが、一般市民より目立つし、刺激を求めて、危ない生活が好きです。

暴走族は日本の社会問題でしょうか。１９９９年の新聞の記事によると、この頃暴走族は前より多くて暴力の犯罪をよく起こします。でも、警察と記者は今日の暴走族と１９８９年の暴走族と比べて、問題を誇張します。実は１９８９年に、暴走族はわりあいすくなくて、２０年前の暴走族よりあぶなくてありませんでした。それに、佐藤先生は暴走族のグループは何よりも、遊ぶためだそうです。暴走族の人は普通の日本人の生活はつまらないと思いますので、変な服を着て、うるさいバイくを乗ります。こういうふうに、暴走族は自分について物語を作って、その夢で、暴走族はヒーローと悪人になります。暴走族はゲームで夢の物語だけですから、20才になると、グループを卒業して、また一般市民になります。暴走族にとって、ヤクザと右翼になることは真剣な事だから、あまり入りません。私には暴走族は西洋の愚連隊よりこわくないですが、将来もっとあぶなくなるかどうかわかりません。暴走族は社会の問題ですが、日本の警察と新聞はよく誇張します。

「安全第一」の社会

暴走族は建築者のようなヘルメットをよくかぶります。そこで「安全第一」の標語がかいてあります。こういうふうに暴走族は日本の社会を嘲ます。戦後の日本は安全な社会ですが、そのため興奮は抑えられています。例えば、私の経験ですが日本の大学生はアメリカへ行きたいと思う人が多かったですけれど、「なんで行かないの？」と私が日本の友達に聞くと「アメリカは恐い。危ないんです」と答えられました。最近、言い訳は「テロの事件は恐い」になりました。事実は２億３０００万人の米国では殺される人はほとんどいないです。私はアメリカが凄く危ないところ、日本が凄く安全なところと言うのは両方幻想だと思います。日本人はリスクを伴なうことをしません。こういうふうに、日本人の安全な「管理社会」の考えは全体主義によって左右されています。つまり自分のやりたいことは「安全第一」の考え方に潰されます。暴走族はこれがよく分かると思います。このため、暴走族は社会にとって恐い象徴を与えて、一般人を怖がらせて、リスクを伴なって、こういうふうに「安全第一」の社会を嘲て、反抗を講じます。暴走族達は不良なんですが、犯罪者より目立つの不良達です。だれかが「なんで目立つことが暴走族にとって、そんなに大切なのでしょうか」と訪ねると、私は暴走族は日本人に警告したいと考えます。日本人は暴走族にたいして耳を傾けられますか。