Is there a foreigner Yakuza? In fact foreigners run some of the Yakuza groups. They are Koreans whose family migrated (by will or otherwise) to Japan in the early 20th century.
A small percentage of the Yakuza are not Japanese. But it may be a hard feat to achieve. That's because the Yakuza have the traditional Japanese warrior spirit that sees the foreigner as a threat. However, if you succeed, you'll have to carry out criminal activities since it's a criminal group.
These activities make the relationship between yakuza and police in Japan a complicated one; yakuza membership itself is not illegal, and yakuza-owned businesses and gang headquarters are often clearly marked.
How can I join the Yakuza Gang? You would need to live in Japan, know Japanese language well, and approach various organizations. Despite what many people mistakenly believe, one does NOT have to be Japanese by blood. In fact, many of the Yakuza are of Korean heritage.
The yakuza mainly make their living through unlawful b usinesses, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and loan-sharking. Most of the money comes from gambling, most often from dice games.
The Yakuza is populated almost entirely by men and the very few women who are acknowledged are the wives of bosses, who are referred to by the title ane-san (姐さん, older sister).
The men of yakuza follow a strict code of conduct and hierarchy. They sport irezumi (a distinctive style of Japanese tattooing), slick back-combed hair, tailored suits, and are most avidly known for following unconventional rituals like yubitsume, the amputation of the left little finger.
As all yakuza members are required to have tattoos, people tend to associate tattoos with them.
These gangs controlled many businesses, engaged in sophisticated gambling and loan sharking activities, and invested heavily in sports and other entertainment. They also became involved in drugs, money lending, smuggling, and pornography.
Can an American be part of the yakuza? The answer is: No, not in any meaningful way. More than anything else, organized crime groups in Japan value Yamato-Damashi—the traditional, and xenophobic, Japanese warrior spirit. You're a foreigner, so you're the problem.
The Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest yakuza family, with about 8,200 members. The Sumiyoshi-kai is the second-largest yakuza family, with 4,200 members.
The largest Yakuza syndicate today is the Yamaguchi-gumi, based out of Kobe. They currently number around 8,000 and focus primarily on gambling, trafficking, and the sex industry. Despite their gradual decline, many members of the Yamaguchi-gumi still rank among the world's wealthiest gangsters.
Members of the Yakuza are strictly prohibited from hurting civilians. It's part of their core rules.
One of the first things you'll notice during your Japan travel trip is how incredibly welcoming Japanese are towards foreigners (thank you Japan!). They are well known for their politeness and deep rooted traditions, so they definitely don't expect travellers to know all the social faux pas right off the bat.
If you're curious about how Japanese people feel about foreigners, the answer is that it depends. Generally speaking, most Japanese people are welcoming and friendly toward foreign visitors, but there can be cultural differences in interaction styles or expectations of behavior.
Japan has earned a reputation as having some of the lowest crime rates in the world, both theft and violent crimes. While the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicate, often plays a role in movies, they are not likely to target tourists. While in Japan, simply exercise common sense and don't make yourself a target.
The effect on organized crime is that Yakuza syndicates still employ Walther P38 and Tokarev pistols from the 20th century, mainly smuggled in from China, Russia and North Korea.
The Yakuza comprises the major Japanese organized crime syndicates and is engaged in serious criminal activities, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, weapons trafficking, extortion, and white collar crimes.
More than a decade of police crackdowns on major gangs and economic uncertainty are making it harder for the yakuza to tempt young men with promises of easy money. Instead, they face decades of risk-taking on behalf of their bosses and longer prison sentences – all without the prospect of a pension.
While tattoos are not illegal, they can prevent people from getting the full Japanese experience. When using public transportation in Japan, such as trains, tourists with visible tattoos will want to keep in mind that their ink may be offensive to some of the locals.
“Is it offensive or insensitive for me as a white man to get traditional Japanese tattoos?” No. There are plenty of Caucasian artists who sport 'yakuza' style tattoos, but since the yakuza have no Caucasian members, there is not much chance that these artists are affiliated to any gumi.
And that's why I've always found the Japanese Yakuza's take on tattoos so fascinating. They believe that tattoos are private, and so they'll commit to full body-suits that can't be seen above any collars or cuffs.
There are many cases of Yakuza members leaving in an attempt to live a normal life. One member claims he could not find permanent work when he tried to leave the criminal world, and when he managed to find work as a labourer he was mistreated so badly he eventually returned to a Yakuza organisation.
Basically no. Yakuza is fundamentally all-men society and value system. The only exception is the wives of the ranking members, especially the big boss. They are called Ane-san.
Many have ornate tattoos that often cover the entire body, marking them for life. But unlike the mafia in America, Yakuza don't hide their membership in the mob because it's not illegal in Japan to be a member of organized crime. And they are so much a part of Japanese culture, they parade openly.