Tomohiko Suzuki, a journalist who specializes in yakuza organizations, said Yamaguchi-gumi’s order “may be intended to furnish its senior members with an alibi in case they are held criminally ...

The first time I saw a Yakuza member in the streets of Kabukicho ... crazy tattooed gangsters running around with swords and guns killing each other every chance they got.

The TL;DR is, courtesy of Wikipedia, that the mafiosa-like Yakuza once had an estimated 184,000 members across Japan, but now is thought to have slightly over 10,000. However, the yakuza is known ...

Shinya Yuyama is a former member of the yakuza in Japan. He says he was arrested 11 times, as a juvenile and adult, and has served eight years in prison. He says he joined the mob when he was 18 ...

"The tattoos are crucial to yakuza members," according to Anton. But they're not used as markers to signify you're part of a gang, like they are in some places in Central and North America.

In the new world of ruthless capitalism, the true yakuza hero, as a man of honor, only fights with a Japanese sword. He is also a loner ... The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, ...