NEWSWORTHY
Police raid yakuza office in Tokyo after deadly shooting in Kabukicho karaoke box
Police on Wednesday raided the Tokyo office of a yakuza group associated with a man wanted in connection with a murder earlier this month in Shinjuku Ward. Masaru Abe, 56, a member of a group under the Sumiyoshikai crime syndicate, is wanted in connection with ...
Shooting in Tokyo's Kabukicho district leaves man dead; police suspect yakuza links
Police said Tuesday a man believed to have shot and killed another man the previous day at a karaoke bar in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment hub fled from the scene via motorcycle, suggesting the suspect had prepared a means of getaway. The victim, identified as Lee ...
Stigma and legal battles show Japan still has tattoo complex even as Olympics loom
When Mana Izumi got her first tattoo at 18, she wasn't trying to rebel or shatter any taboos — just copy pop diva Namie Amuro's beach-bronze "surfer chick" look. In Japan, where tattoos have for centuries been demonized for their association with criminals, former porn ...
U.S. Treasury puts yakuza figures, mob-linked firms on sanctions blacklist
The U.S. Treasury Department took aim Tuesday at Japan's largest yakuza syndicate, placing four senior officials of the Yamaguchi-gumi on its sanctions blacklist as well as two companies tied to the gang. "We are ramping up pressure on this dangerous Japanese crime syndicate and local ...
'Yakuza Tattoo': Inside the secretive world of the yakuza's tattoos
Andreas Johansson spent almost three weeks immersed in the world of the yakuza, photographing and talking to around 30 gang members for his book, "Yakuza Tattoo."
Made men: Tokyo-based 'yakuza' talent agency delivers the real deal
They aren't just acting tough; they really are tough. In an entertainment industry rife with crime shows, no one can supply villains quite like Takakura-gumi: Most of the talent agency's 62 members are former gangsters. Take Yoshidamaru, for example, a son of a yakuza boss with ...
In Japan, a high-profile former gangster struggles to go straight
Everyone loves a tale of redemption. Unfortunately, this isn't going to be one of them. In a previous column, I introduced a man who had gone from being a greedy, violent, self-centered boss of an organized crime syndicate to become a compassionate male nurse. It's ...
'The Outsider' scores a few hits among the misses
Netflix last month released a yakuza film starring Jared Leto titled "The Outsider" to critical disdain. And as much as I expected to hate the movie, I didn't. It's portrayal of the world of organized crime in Japan after World War II is not ...
Tokyo police officer quits after allegedly giving yakuza she was dating investigative info
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said a young officer resigned Monday after being suspended and referred to prosecutors for allegedly leaking investigative information to a yakuza she was dating. The 23-year-old officer, who oversaw detainees at Shinjuku Police Station, quit effective on Monday after being ...
Japan looks to curb company establishment by organized crime groups
The Justice Ministry unveils measures to restrict the establishment of joint stock companies by organized crime syndicates in a move aimed at preventing fraud and money laundering.
Police have launched a series of raids at locations linked to yakuza crime syndicates over their alleged organized involvement in simultaneous fraudulent ATM withdrawals totaling ¥1.8 billion in 2016. The raids Monday covered five offices of yakuza groups, including the headquarters of the Yamaguchi-gumi in ...
Fukuoka to offer financial help for gangsters trying to leave crime syndicates
Yakuza who wish to cut ties with crime groups — yet fear a backlash and cannot seek refuge elsewhere — will be entitled to the program.
