moyashi
後輩
- 15 Apr 2002
- 1,571
- 18
- 48
This is one of my favorite subjects regarding Japan.
backside culture :: as in what most Japanese wish didn't exist.
We've all heard of Yakuza but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yakuza
The Yakuza like the famous Mafia are the gang leaders of the Japanese underworld. There's probably not much I can explain that you haven't all heard, read, seen some where else but I'd like to expand on some possiblities here.
The lower level Yakuza are basically independent businessmen trying to make a living. Some do it through protection, gambiling, festival stalls, racketiring, stocks, credit fraud, you name it! If they can make a buck they've already done it.
The Yakuza also are heavily tied to the police. They pay the police for protection, so that they can protect their interest in the business market.
The Police do every so often slap some fingers but still their is a partnership here. The police control the general populice while the Yakuza control the back end dirty crimes. ie, drugs, guns, women.
Ever notice with the fall of the Mafia in the States that other crimial organizations came to power? I really believe that it is because of the yakuza that crime is so low in Japan.
Irezumi (japanese tatoo) ... believe or not ... as the story goes. Is based on fishermen. Fisherman would tatoo themselves so that if they fall in the ocean and die, somebody would be able to recognize their remains.
Because of the relationship of irezumi with yakuza, the western type of tatoos also occurs the same stigma. My friends can't go to many pools or onsen because they have tatoos. (some aren't yakuza)
Leaving the family.
With current laws, many young, not so efficent yakuza have been able to leave their families. NO, the finger cutting is not so often. Or at least, haven't seen too many 4 fingers on the street.
Several of my friends, were Yakuza, and were able to leave the family. I haven't asked how much the had to pay. hehe... I should.
making friends.
hmmm ... I leave that choice up to you. I myself prefer not getting involved with them on anything more than a Kampai. Debts and paybacks are still a very large part of their society.
hmmm ... I don't want to think what they would want from me.
benefits of the Yakuza
- Increased credit card transaction protection
- low crime rate (yes, believe it or not)
- safe parking lots (I used to live in an apartment building were several yakuza lived and my car never even once got a scratch while in the lot since if some scratched the wrong car ... look out!)
- interesting drinking places
- gambling areas
- and many more.
current economics
Recently, much like the japanese economy the Yakuza too have been hit hard by the effects. Many Yakuza have had to quit since they can't make a living. Hey, you gotta have money to survive and if your protectees aren't able to pay what are you to do?
hmmm ... this came out much more jumbled than I had planned. sorry
:
backside culture :: as in what most Japanese wish didn't exist.
We've all heard of Yakuza but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yakuza
The Yakuza like the famous Mafia are the gang leaders of the Japanese underworld. There's probably not much I can explain that you haven't all heard, read, seen some where else but I'd like to expand on some possiblities here.
The lower level Yakuza are basically independent businessmen trying to make a living. Some do it through protection, gambiling, festival stalls, racketiring, stocks, credit fraud, you name it! If they can make a buck they've already done it.
The Yakuza also are heavily tied to the police. They pay the police for protection, so that they can protect their interest in the business market.
The Police do every so often slap some fingers but still their is a partnership here. The police control the general populice while the Yakuza control the back end dirty crimes. ie, drugs, guns, women.
Ever notice with the fall of the Mafia in the States that other crimial organizations came to power? I really believe that it is because of the yakuza that crime is so low in Japan.
Irezumi (japanese tatoo) ... believe or not ... as the story goes. Is based on fishermen. Fisherman would tatoo themselves so that if they fall in the ocean and die, somebody would be able to recognize their remains.
Because of the relationship of irezumi with yakuza, the western type of tatoos also occurs the same stigma. My friends can't go to many pools or onsen because they have tatoos. (some aren't yakuza)
Leaving the family.
With current laws, many young, not so efficent yakuza have been able to leave their families. NO, the finger cutting is not so often. Or at least, haven't seen too many 4 fingers on the street.
Several of my friends, were Yakuza, and were able to leave the family. I haven't asked how much the had to pay. hehe... I should.
making friends.
hmmm ... I leave that choice up to you. I myself prefer not getting involved with them on anything more than a Kampai. Debts and paybacks are still a very large part of their society.
hmmm ... I don't want to think what they would want from me.
benefits of the Yakuza
- Increased credit card transaction protection
- low crime rate (yes, believe it or not)
- safe parking lots (I used to live in an apartment building were several yakuza lived and my car never even once got a scratch while in the lot since if some scratched the wrong car ... look out!)
- interesting drinking places
- gambling areas
- and many more.
current economics
Recently, much like the japanese economy the Yakuza too have been hit hard by the effects. Many Yakuza have had to quit since they can't make a living. Hey, you gotta have money to survive and if your protectees aren't able to pay what are you to do?
hmmm ... this came out much more jumbled than I had planned. sorry
:
