For decades, Japan’s underworld has been dominated by the yakuza. You all have an image of the Japanese mafia. Highly structured, hierarchical groups with rigid rules, clear leadership, a clear sense of honor and tradition. For a long time they had a kind of uneasy coëxistence with the state; basically they were allowed to do their thing as long as they controlled low-level street crime. They did. It’s not by mistake that Japanese cities are among the safest in the world. That’s not because of the police; it’s because of the yakuza. That old order is now being shaken.
According to a recent report, newer groups such as Kokuryu-kai are rising fast. Unlike traditional yakuza syndicates, these upstart gangs are younger, looser, and far less interested in ceremony or long-standing codes of conduct. They operate more like modern street gangs: flexible, opportunistic, and willing to ignore the unwritten rules that once kept violence and disruption somewhat contained. They go after the money, wherever it is, and this is much different than yakuza.
For example, the yakuza would never try to con old people. That’s dishonorable. But the tokuryu has no such belief and they are mroe than happy to prey on the elderly.
This shift is unsettling Japan’s criminal ecosystem. The classic yakuza model relied on stability — territory was respected, conflicts were mediated, and public disorder was minimized to avoid police crackdowns. Groups like the Kokuryu, by contrast, thrive on speed and intimidation, making them harder to predict and control. Ironically, this makes them a problem not only for police, but for the yakuza themselves.
Despite the traditional “partnership” mentioned above between the police and the yakuza, there has been growing pressure from various quarters over the years to crack down on yakuza activities, and so crime laws targeting organized crime have been increasing. These tougher anti-yakuza laws have weakened the old syndicates, pushing them out of visible businesses and social spaces. Into that vacuum have stepped these newer groups, unconcerned with legacy or reputation. What’s emerging is not a cleaner underworld, but a more chaotic one, where centuries-old criminal traditions are being dismantled by a generation with nothing to preserve and little to lose.
In trying to suppress organized crime, Japan may have succeeded in breaking the old system, only to discover that what replaces it could be far more volatile. What’s the result? Well, the days of a super safe Japan might be numbered, for one. Interesting times.
To read more, check out this story.
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Bluesky. |