ABSTRACT
The Yakuza (known officially as Boryoku-dan; literally, ‘violence group’) has been a part of Japanese society since at least the Edo period.1 The modern Yakuza, however, established itself in the aftermath of the Second World War, when the government lacked the ability to control its territory. Until recently, the Yakuza has been tolerated in Japanese society and used for its services of aggressive persuasion or its organizational influence. The members of the Yakuza used to walk down the street openly showing their affiliation. The Yakuza’s existence and its activities were recognized as a ‘grey area’ in Japanese society, and its services were requested when coercive power was needed. Society’s attitude toward the Yakuza, however, has changed from acceptance to rejection in the last 18 years.
