After doing the readings and watching the various
documentaries on international crime and organized crime around the world I
became very interested in the dealings of the Yakuza, the Japanese crime syndicates. I spent last summer in Tokyo and I the view
of the yakuza I have, through the lens of my Japanese friends is a highly romanticized
ideal of the Yakuza. They seem to
represent a unique “screw you” attitude that is refreshing in a nation that is
based so strongly on following a predefined societal path. But after doing a little research it become
clear that while the yakuza may seem cool they are highly dangerous and are
posing problems not just at home but abroad as well.
The US has begun an active campaign to, in the words of the
Obama administration, "target
transnational criminal organisations and isolate them from the global financial
system”. Several key members of the
Yakuza have had their American assets frozen and the goal is to freeze them out
of the international market place, where they have been key players in
everything from drug smuggling to human trafficking. The Yakuza have around 80,000 registered
members, easily the largest organized syndicates in the world and it wasn’t until
recently that they have been cracked down on at home. The laws in Japan have always been vague and
soft when it came to the Yakuza, they were allowed to operate with very little interference. Traditional Yakuza crime included
prostitution and exstortion, but as times change and the money moves they have
spread their influence into many other sectors.
They are now participating in predatory loans, as well as construction,
while still employing their traditional intimidation and extortion. They have been tied to drug trafficking into
Japan as well as prostitution rings internationally. At least in the US, prostitution is illegal,
but it is difficult to prosecute across international boundaries. That leaves the US government with very few
options. It still remains to be seen if
financial exclusion will be enough to reign in Yakuza activity internationally. The Yakuza will always have a romanticized
image and as long as they have the hearts of the people, they will be very
difficult to stop.
This was an extremely informative and well-written post! It was interesting to read of the personal and romanticized view of the Yakuza you witnessed last summer in Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very good post. It was very interesting how you had a personal view of the Yakuza. I thought how you gave information was great i learned a lot reading this post
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