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).
In terms of how women fit into the patriarchal structure of the Yakuza, Jafé says: “Yakuza aren't more patriarchal than the rest of the country, so most of Yakuza wives have the life of 'basic' Japanese housewives.
Can a woman be a Oyabun? In the years before and after World War II, documented cases can be found on the “many female delinquents, female gurentai, and female yakuza” with famous female oyabuns ruling in the areas of Yokohama and Tokyo.
Irezumi, known as a Japanese tattoo, usually covering some or most of the women's bodies. Chloe planned to explore the irezumi associated with the Yakuza culture. It is a handmade design made with a wooden handle and a needle.
Shoko Tendo, the daughter of a Yakuza gangster boss who wrote a memoir about her experiences, said her father allowed her to be repeatedly raped by associates he was indebted to, leaving her “bloody and bruised” in downmarket hotel rooms.
Kenichi Shinoda (篠田 建市, Shinoda Ken'ichi, born January 25, 1942), also known as Shinobu Tsukasa (司 忍, Tsukasa Shinobu), is a Japanese Yakuza, the sixth and current kumicho (supreme kingpin, or chairman) of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza organization.
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. Sumiyoshi-kai is a confederation of smaller yakuza groups.
What is the name for female Yakuza? Sukeban (スケバン/助番) is a Japanese term meaning 'delinquent girl', and the female equivalent to the male banchō in Japanese culture.
Yakuza doesn't use tattoos to identify their members, so you won't run into trouble. These tattoos are personal and based on Japanese legends, symbolism, and art. However, in Japan there is a strong stigma against tattoos, so you might not be able to enter some public places with visible body art.
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.
Contrarily, the yakuza are a confederation of criminal syndicates active throughout Japan. According to Japanese law, their status is not illegal: they have offices and a yakuza presence is still noticeable in many cities.
Sukeban (スケバン/助番) is a Japanese term meaning 'delinquent girl', and the female equivalent to the male banchō in Japanese culture. The usage of the word sukeban refers to either the leader of a girl gang or the entire gang itself, and is not used to refer to any one member of a girl gang.
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.
While the traditional Japanese culture allowed polygamy in the form of concubines and multiple wives, this practice has been outlawed since 1896 when Japan adopted the Meiji Civil Code, which stipulated monogamy as the only form of marriage. To sum it up: it's still not legal in Japan.
The wives, daughters, and mistresses of the yakuza are not considered true members of the organisation, even though they play an important role within it. To function in this world, they must develop a unique strength and character.
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.
Three largest syndicates
The Yakuza are still active in Japan. Although Yakuza membership has declined since the implementation of the Anti-Boryokudan Act in 1992, the Japanese National Police Agency estimated in 2022 that approximately 11,400 Yakuza members were engaged in illegal activity in Japan.
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.
Three horizontal dots can be a reminder of your life journey: birth, life, and death. In addition, as three horizontal dots are popular as ellipsis, such a tattoo can symbolize your life journey, meaning that it always continues, and only you can control it to achieve your final goal.
Similar to that of the Italian Mafia, the yakuza hierarchy is reminiscent of a family. The leader of any gang or conglomerate of yakuza is known as the oyabun (“boss”; literally “parent status”), and the followers are known as kobun (“protégés,” or “apprentices”; literally “child status”).
Approximately 5,200 yakuza gangs operating throughout Japan began to stake out their territories and violent gang wars occurred. These gangs controlled many businesses, engaged in sophisticated gambling and loan sharking activities, and invested heavily in sports and other entertainment.
Members of the Yakuza are strictly prohibited from hurting civilians. It's part of their core rules.
Yes, you can join the Yakuza as an American. 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.
Tadamasa Goto was a prominent figure in the Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate, and is considered one of the most notorious and controversial Yakuza bosses of all time.
Tendo lived her life in luxury until the age of six, when her father was sent to prison, and her family fell into terrible debt. Bullied by classmates who called her “the yakuza girl,” and terrorized at home by a father who became a drunken, violent monster after his release from prison, Tendo rebelled.