yakuza

Yakuza, or bōryokudan, are Japanese organized crime groups operating as structured networks with hierarchical lines of authority. Members commonly identify as ninkyō dantai, or chivalrous organizations, and the term yakuza is traditionally linked to a losing hand in a historical card game. While their prominence has fluctuated, yakuza groups have persisted into the modern era.

Organizationally, yakuza follow the oyabun–kobun system, headed by a kumichō (boss) with subordinate clans and affiliates. Key roles include wakagashira (underboss) and younger members called shatei-in. Tattoos (irezumi) and practices such as yubitsume (finger shortening) have symbolized membership and loyalty, though public visibility of tattoos has declined due to social and legal pressure.

Yakuza engage in a wide range of criminal activities, including protection rackets, loan sharking, extortion, gambling, drug trafficking, and infiltration of legitimate enterprises. They commonly operate through front companies in construction, real estate, entertainment, and finance to secure influence and launder money. Publicly, their role is controversial, with some communities seeking regulation and others pushing for tighter suppression.

Japan has laws designating bōryokudan and restricting dealings with them. Banks, businesses, and local governments may avoid service or contracts with designated groups. Since the 1990s, legal designations and police actions have reduced their public presence and membership, though some groups remain active in specific sectors and regions.

Today, yakuza numbers have declined from late-20th-century highs, and legal and social pressure continues to erode their influence. The groups retain some operational capacity and adapt to a tighter regulatory environment, making their precise size and impact difficult to determine. They remain a focal point of crime policy and public debate in Japan.