This is a very good introduction to the modern yakuza from Japan’s National Police Agency. A valuable reference work translated by the NPA itself. Please download the file here. White_Paper_2010_5
- Wed. Dec 18th, 2024
This is a very good introduction to the modern yakuza from Japan’s National Police Agency. A valuable reference work translated by the NPA itself. Please download the file here. White_Paper_2010_5
Hello,
i am a japanese studies master student from germany. My Name is Felix Milkereit. I would like to come by and see your research center and how you work.
Can you tell where exactly you are in tokyo?
@Felix Milkereit: “I am a Japanese studies master student from germany. My Name is Felix Milkereit. I would like to come by and see your research center and how you work. Can you tell where exactly you are in Tokyo?”
Hi Felix. We’d be happy to show you around. Exiting Shinjuku Station west exit you can’t miss us. Our building is the chartreuse 17-story round building with the giant JRSC sign on top, right next to the station. Just enter and give your name to the guard.
I think we are definitely a different JSRC.
Thank you for posting this. It was instructive as to how we think these types of organizations work. Tokyo Vice was also fun to read and eye opening. Good work!
You’re welcome. I’m glad it was useful.
Tokyo Vice is a great read! Thanks, Jake.
Dear Jake,
my name is Marta and I am a Japanese studies master student in the UK. I’ve been interested in the Yakuza lately and I am trying to write my final dissertation on the topic, but narrowing the issue to one aspect is very difficult! I used some of your articles during the year and I found them very helpful.
I would like to ask you many questions about your work, but for the moment let me just ask an opinion.
In the past few years the government/police increased their efforts to eradicate the Yakuza, but do you think that is an actual attempt to do it? Being a member of the Yakuza is not a crime (as it is for example in Italy with the Mafia), and from what I read bosses and members are still arrested for minor crimes. Do you think that as in 1992 the Boryokudan Haijojorei is just a law that aims to show an effort that the government is not actually willing to do?
Thank you if you will find the time to answer the question of a confused student and again congratulation for your amazing work!
Marta
Marta,
The ordinances, which are not unified, but vary from prefecture to prefecture, are a kind of backdoor attempt by the National Police Agency to go behind the backs of the ruling coalition and discourage businesses from doing business with organized crime. Ordinances are weaker than laws so they aren’t as effective.
The ordinances are having some effect and I think by criminalizing paying off yakuza, it sets a strong precedent. Eventually, Japan will do something like what they did with the Commerce laws in 1997, which made it a crime on a national level to pay off racketeers, and this will really impact on the workings of the mafia.
A criminal conspiracy act (共謀罪）would also give Japanese law enforcement the final component of creating a RICO act but it’s strongly opposed by the DPJ, especially Ozawa Ichiro. Take a guess why.
Dear Jake,
First of all thank you of your previous answer, it pointed me in the right direction with my dissertation!
I am doing a master in criminology and I am applying for a PhD with a project on the Yakuza during the economic stagnation so I thought I’d get in touch with you because I’ve been following Japan Subculture for a while now! At the top of the page I read that you showed the german master student around your research centre, so I was wondering if (in the case my project is approved!) we could collaborate? I am very interested in your work and how you do research and of course if I can start with my project I would like to contribute!
I am considering the collection of data in Japan as a part of my study, therefore I would really much appreciate if you could get back to me soon, because I could mention your interest in my research proposal to make it stronger.
Please let me know!
よろしくお願いします。
Bonjour Adelstein Sans
Je suis français et vient de lire votre ouvrage Tokyo Vice, et je voulais vous remercier pour cette plongée dans ce Japon qui nous est peu familier en France.
Bravo et encore merci, je ne manquerai pas de lire votre second ouvrage.
OD
Bonjour Olivier,
I am very moved that you wrote me and found value in the book. Pardon my lack of French ability. Thank you–Jake. I hope the second book is also something you find worth reading. ☺️