Society Former yakuza joining war effort in Ukraine

[thomas]

In Japan, Haru, the fifty-year-old son of a yakuza boss, was sentenced to nine years in jail for violating the explosive substances control law. An extra year was slapped onto his sentence after he beat up a fellow inmate. In prison, he experienced what he called an epiphany and became determined to change his ways. Appalled by what's happening in Ukraine, he volunteered, joining the Georgian Foreign Legion as a sniper.

After serving his time, he made it to Kyiv, through Poland, and headed to a recruitment centre for a division of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with a British army veteran he had befriended. Haru, with no military experience, was unsurprisingly knocked back. But the British volunteer vouched for him. He told the recruiters that his friend's past life with the yazuka would make him a fierce comrade. And, after a bit of encouragement, Haru showed off his tattoos to prove his credentials. "The recruiter thought about it for a while and eventually said, 'it's OK if the British man is going to support you'. That's how I got in," Haru says. It was a gamble that soon paid off for the Ukrainian recruiters. Haru started to show exceptional skills with a rifle, after only a couple of months of arms training.

Harusan had no military experience or Ukrainian language skills. This foreign fighting unit took him on anyway

Harusan felt he had little choice in life but to follow his father's footsteps and become a Japanese gangster. It was a path that landed him in jail for years, but now, he is ready to fight Russian invaders on the front line in Ukraine.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Grandpa Frank]

My cynical mind thinks he just getting more training for when he becomes boss. I imagine that's a hard life to escape and change.

 

[thomas]

It looks as if their career opportunities are rather bleak.

Ranks of Japan's once-feared 'yakuza' shrink – DW – 08/15/2022

The COVID pandemic has been another nail in the coffin for underworld groups in Japan. They were already struggling to overcome economic decline, an aging membership and aggressive government eradication campaigns.

www.dw.com

 

[nice gaijin]

if you're going to live a violent life, may it at least be for a good cause