Yakuza, Essay Example

Yakuza is the name of an organized crime group which has been compared by American scholars to the well-known mafia.  According to Anthony Bruno, the origin of the Yakuza is a “matter of some debate.” But, he says, some claim that the group evolved from the kabuki-mono, which translates to “the crazy ones.” The kabuki-mono were 17^th century Samurai who carried elaborate weapons, had elaborate hairstyles and used elaborate words. When the leaders of the day no longer needed the services of their Samurai, the kabuki-mono became ronin and turned away from defense and to “theft and mayhem.” According to Bruno, however, the Yakuza call themselves descendants of the machi-yokko, who were defenders of their villages. Bruno believes they see themselves as Robin Hoods/ (Bruno, 2002, p. 1)

The Yakuza have a number of interesting rituals. One of the most noticeable is that of “yubitsume,” which David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro describe as a ritual “in which the top joint of the little finger is ceremoniously severed.” This is done when a lesser member of the group offends a higher-up. The lesser member presents the tip of his finger to the “boss” in atonement. (Kaplan & Dubro, 2003, p. 14)  According to Kaplan and Dubro, finger-cutting had a practical purpose. It made a person’s sword grip less stable and made the atoner less likely to be able to defend himself in battle. (Kaplan & Dubro, 2003, p. 14) The Yakuza also undergo painful full-body tattooing, which was originally a punishment that ostracized gamblers who were frowned upon by Japanese society. They are now a symbol of pride amongst the Yakuza (Kaplan & Dubro, 2003, p. 15).

The Yakuza have a love-hate relationship with Japanese politicians and police. While some policemen have tried to bust Yakuza’s gambling rings, many officers sympathize with the group and, according to Klockars, Ivkovi? and Haberfeld, even welcome the Yakuza as a sort of “alternate police force.”  Japanese police, say Klockars et al, are terrified of unorganized crime and welcome the help of organized criminals in preventing it.  The police even pay Yakuza for their services by looking the other way when yakuza members commit crimes. (Klockars, Ivkovi?, & Haberfeld, 2004, p. 150)

Works Cited

Bruno, A. (2002). The Yakuza. Retrieved November 25, 2010, from The Crime Library: http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters3/yakuza/index.htm

Kaplan, D. E., & Dubro, A. (2003). Yakuza: Japan’s criminal underworld. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Klockars, C. B., Ivkovi?, S. K., & Haberfeld, M. R. (2004). The Contours of Police Jntegrity. Thousand Oaks: Sage.