LLCU 214 Final Test
Vory v Zakone Credo
- "All for me and none for you" - "Give me everything, and then I want more"
The Triads History (5.2): Tu Yueh-sheng
- "Big Eared Tu" - Leader of the Green Gang and kingpin of Triad crime in Shanghai - Used his opium smuggling network against Mao's Communist forces
The Yakuza (Movie)
- 1974 néo-noir gangster film directed by Pollack - About a man who returns to Japan after several years away in order to rescue his friend's kidnapped daughter - Like the mafia, Glorified in film; the 1970 film The Yakuza reinforces the legend of the Yakuza as originating to protect poor people in small towns from traveling bands of marauding noblemen, adopting a code of honour as rigorous as the samurai code.
Sutra no Mura (Movie)
- 1984 - equivalent of the godfather
Vory v Zakone Rules/Code
- A vor must - support another member in any and all circumstances - live only on what he has stolen, conned, or has won while gambing - live above and beyond the rules of State law - never serve in the armed forces - never defend himself in court if charged with a crime of which he is innocent - steal from other prisoners while in custody - rebel against the State while in custody; whenever he can he should exploit the weaknesses of the State prison system - find and train new young criminals and, if they are suitable, arrange for their acceptance into the underworld - never marry before the State; semi permanent relationships are permitted; and marriage involving a for is akin to a master-slave relationship - donate money from his activities to an obshchak, a fund for the assistance of other Thieves - never gamble more than he has; all gambling debts must be settled - Punishments for violating the code varied from a face slap to death - In a prison, a vor could be expelled for accepting a light for his cigarette from a guard
The Triads History (3): The Legend
- According to the Triad's own account of their origin, the monks of Shaolin monastery played a prominent role in the resistance - The Qing Emperor sent troops to destroy the monks and burn down the monastery - However, 18 monks managed to escape, five of whom were able to make their way to a hidden sanctuary and form the Heaven and Earth Society - The monks chose the triangle of their symbol of resistance, a shape that has mystical connotations - Three vertices were names Heaven, Earth, and Man - The surviving monks came to be mythologized as the Five Ancestors
Yakuza: Other Names
- Also Known as Gokudo - Japanese police call them Boryokudan (violent group) - Yakuza call itself Ninkyo-dantai ("Chivalrous organization")
Yubitsume
- An act of self-mutilation. Literally "finger-shortening" - Kaplan and Dubro : "the ritual act within the Yakuza of slicing off the little finger at the joint to atone for a mistake" - yubitsume can be voluntary or involuntary, though is usually done voluntarily for atonement - Historically, made it difficult to grip a katana, rendering the member more reliant on their boss for protection - Fun Fact: Bob the Builder and Postman pat both only have 4 fingers, many thought it was an allusion to the Yakuza
Vory v Zakone History (6): Emergence of the Vory v Zakone (PR, LC, RO)
- Based on pre-Revolution criminal traditions and customs, the most authoritative criminals became known as the "vory v zakone" - Correctional labour camps acted as a medium for further development and swift dissemination of thieves' traditions and customs throughout prison - The recruitment continues outside of correctional labour camps
Vory v Zakone: Vices
- Because of the lengthy prison terms, the very allowed vices, where permitted, such as contraband alcohol or taking drugs, but their use could never be an excuse for violating the code - Homosexuality was allowed, but the for could never be the passive participant and only the aggressive "giving" one
Yakuza and Politics (2): Kazuo Taoka
- Born into a poor family, he began his criminal career as a bouncer in Kobe - Rose to prominence because of his penchant for violence and talent for organziation - Died of a heart attack in 1981, funeral attended by more than 1,200 Yakuza members - Tao's friendships and contact extended to the highest levels of government, including two former prime ministers
The Triads History (4): The Boxer Rebellion
- Boxer rebellion transformed the society into a criminal organization - Boxer rebellion: bloody uprising in china in 1900 in which hundreds we're killed. climax of a movement against the rise of Western and Japanese influence in China - Started by a secret Chinese society calle Yihequan ("Righteous and harmonious fists") which was originally connected with the triads - Nicknamed the boxers by Westerners because they showed expertise in pugilism, gymnastics, and calisthenics - Set out to destroy everything they considered foreign, slaughtering anyone who supported Western Ideas - Allied with the boxers, government troops took over the official residences of foreign diplomats, who resisted courageously alongside various Chinese courageously until they were ultimately defeated - Realized it was likely impossible to throw out all foreigners - turned inwards, exploiting their own people - The more triads moved away from their chivalric roots, the more they refined their secret rituals and symbols
The Triads History (5): Civil War 1927-1949
- Civil war between the Chinese Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong's Communist party of China - Mao and Kasher both wanted the triads to join their armies, however, kasher was able to get the triads to join the nationalist army - Mao was initially hopeful of bringing the Triads to the Communist side - Wrote in 1926: - "These people are capable of fighting very bravely and if properly led, can become a revolutionary force" - Mao eventually ruthlessly punished the Triad member who did not manage to escape Taiwan or make it to Macau or Hong Kong for Backing the Wrong side
The Triads
- Dominate criminal activities in Chinese communities across the globe - Truly trans-national, with flourishing branches on every continent - Only fail to qualify as the world's largest official crime network because investigators admit that they can no longer track their spectacular growth - Firmly at the forefront of organized crime such as drug and people trafficking - Fluid, adaptable, and sophisticated - Have survived for centuries despite efforts of many governments - "The immortal society"
Vory v Zakone History (8): Brezhnev's Era and 1982 Tbilsi
- During the Brezhnev's era, corruption was a way of life - Black market and cooperation between criminals and bureaucrats was common place - A skhodka was held to discuss a possible involvement into the society to gain political power - Vast Brilliant insisted that his fellow criminal leaders not get involved in politics - Vory from the Caucasus mountain region, particularly Georgians, opposed Brilliant... they instead wanted to be part of political power/government - Java loselani became the right hand man of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze - Russians: - no cooperation with state authorities - criminal brotherhood of unrelated members - Georgians: - more flexible into social integration - membership based on blood relations
Vory v Zakone History (1): Early 18th Century
- During the time of Peter the Great (1695-1725) the country was swarming with thieves, but there was no cooperation among them (disorganized) - Maverick, lone wolf
Yakuza Structure
- Family like; like family tree - Pyramidal - Oyabun (Family Boss) *father role - Saiko-Komon (Administrator) - Shingiin (Law Advisor) - Kaike (Accountant) - Wakagashira (First Lieutenant) and Shateigashira (Second Lieutenant) - Kyodai (Big Brothers) - Shatei (Little Brothers) - Below all of these: - Kobe (member/soldier of the organization) - no way out; you either die in the organization or you are in witness protection
Mafia and Film: Yuzu Itami
- Film industry largely controlled by the yakuza; you will never see a movie portraying yakuza as criminals - Only one who had courage to change this was japanese ilm director forced to kill himself
Yakuza Big Bosses: Kaki Inagawa
- First head of the Inagawa-kai Yakuza clan - Japanese cinema's closest equivalent to The Godfather, Shura No Mura (A band of Daredevils), is lovely based on his life - Gang based in Yokohama - 1970s - both politicians and fellow bosses accepted his idea that the Yakuza could be a defending organization against communism
Vory v Zakone: Contract Murder
- For all the violence generated by Vory v Zakone, contract murder is seen as negative - While violators of the Code could be put to death, those known as having killed for a gain were rejected, and could be expelled if they killed for reasons not related to personal honour or in defence of the code
Sokaiya
- Form of specialized racketeering unique to Japan, often associated with the Yakuza that extort money from or blackmail companies by threatening to publicly humiliate them and their management, usually at an annual meeting
The Triads History (2): White Lotus Society
- Had a definite impact on the creation of the Triads, basically seen as its origin group, some historians/researchers claim that this society was the first Triad - Emerged at the end of the Tang dynasty in the tenth century - Buddhist sect which later became a secret society and led the revolt against mongol rule over China in the thirteenth century - Links to buddhism; metaphysical organization - Its actions helped former Buddhist monk, Hung Wu, to become Emperor and to found the Ming Dyanasty in 1300s - When the Qing (sometimes Manchu) Dynasty conquered all of China in 1644, the White Lotus Society once again became the focus of a resistance movement dedicated to removing the Qing from the Imperial throne and restoring the Ming Dynasty
The Triads History (5.1): Chiang Kai-shek
- He was a Chinese Nationalist leader who forged an alliance with the Triads in his fight against Mao's Communist forces, which led to the creation of many new Triad gangs
The Triads: Structure
- Hierarchical - "Mountain Master" Dragon Head (Leader) 489 - "Vanguard" Operations Officer 438 - "Incense Master" Ceremonies Officer 438 - "Deputy Mountain Master" Deputy 438 - "White Paper Fan" Administrator 415 - "Straw Sandal" Liaison Officer 432 - "Red Pole" Enforcer 426 - "49ers" Ordinary Members 49 - "Blue Lanterns" Uninitiated Members
Yakuza Initiation Ritual
- Highly formal - Takes place in a Shinto shrine, imbues it with religious undertones - "An auspicious day is chosen, and all members of the organization will attend, with torimochinin or azukarinin ("guarantors") present as intermediaries - Rise, whole fish, and piles of salt are placed in the Shinto shrine alcove, in front of which the oyabun and kobun sit facing each other - The guarantors arrange the fish ceremonially and fill the drinking cups with sake, adding fish scales and salt - They then warn the Kobun of his future duties - "Having drunk from the oyabun's cup and he from yours, you now owe loyalty to the ikka (family) and devotion to your oyabun. Even should your wife and children starve, even at the cost of your like, your duty is now to ikka and oyabun" - "From now on you have no other occupation until the day you die. The oyabun is your only parent; follow him through fire and flood" - Shares symbolistm - Blood symbolism; blood not exchanged like in the Mafia ceremony, but sake is, which is a metaphorical substitute and connected to a life-giving substance in Japan- rice
Vory v Zakone History (10): A New Era
- In a suddenly wide-open market place they appeared ostensibly as the only organizations capable of getting anything accomplished - While the traditional Soviet gangsters still operate within their Code, a newer, more modern strain of criminals has emerged from the former Soviet Union - less concerned with the Thieve's Code, including: - plain criminals - former athletes and soldiers - former spies - entrepreneurs who specialize in financial crime and fraud
Vory v Zakone Initiation
- In the initiation ceremony the applicant is "crowned" at a meeting called "skhodka" - Accounts of the ceremony rage from kissing a knife to swearing an allegiance of loyalty before senior criminals - To be accepted into the vorovskoi mir, at least two vory have to propose the new member - See Eastern Promises
Vory y Zakone: Not so Distant?
- Ivankov's brother in law lived for many years in Toronto as a boss in charge of many criminal activities in the city - Was at the hand of an organization capable of supporting many members of our federal parliament (at least 10)
Yakuza and Politics (3): Keishu Tanaka
- Japan's justice minister - In 2012 was forced to resign when it was discovered that he had links to Yakuza - However, such links are not always so damaging in Japanese politics and society
Myth: Mafia and Yakuza
- Like the mafia, party self-styled fiction and part media fiction. - Gaining strength and power from this "dual fictionalizing" process. - Like the godfather movies, the folk stories of the samurai fill a void in the moral space that the postmodern world negates in many ways
The Triads vs. The Tong
- Main difference: they are both criminal organizations, but whereas the Triads are born out of china, the Tongs originate in US and Canada
The Yakuza
- Most likely the oldest criminal organization - Not centralized; more of an umbrella term for many criminal organizations in japan and around the world - There are 21 major groups with more than 53,000 members - Yamaguchi-Gumi as the largest group with $50 billion in revenue - Yamaguchi is a last name; gumi means extended family - Members are mostly poor orphans - what the mafia called 'baptism' is in this case called 'adoption - different from some others: you are not renouncing your family, you are joining a family that is very often your only family; often no blood family
Yakuza: Name Origin
- Name derived from the worst possible score in a Japanese card game (Hanafuga), a Japanese equivalent to Black Jack, Oicho-Kabu, the only difference being the winning total of the cards s 19 instead of 21 - If a player receives cards with the sum of 20, it is above the winning score of 19, considered worst possible result - the three numbers (8,9, 3) is one such combination, and phonetically makes the sound of ya-ku-sa
Active Vory y Zakone: Vladimir Podatev
- Nickname: "Poodle" - Ethnicity: Russian - Appointed as a member of the Commission for Human Rights under the Yeltsin regime - Convicted three times: larceny, armed robbery, rape
Active Vory y Zakone: Zachar Kalashov
- Nickname: Shakro-molodoi - Ethnicity: Kurdish/Yezidi - Georgian-Russian mafia boss, notorious gangster and Thief-In-Law, who is widely believed to be one of the most prominent members of the Russian-Georgian mafia
Vory v Zakone: Nicknames
- Nicknames are a common trait across criminal organizations we've seen; as if you are born again and therefore branded again - All Thieves have nicknames - Those who are brought into the formal underworld may have had nicknames in their former lives; however, when initiated they're given new names or are allowed to choose one - Some nicknames describe a physical characteristic: - Vyacheslav Ivankov became Yakonchik ("The Japanese") because of the cast of his eyes - Others might be for a thief's attitude: - Tang or Dashing - A home invader might be called Madhouse because of his single-minded wrecking of a victim's home - See Eastern Promises
The Yakuza Origins: The Kabuki Mono
- One hypothesis is that they came from KM: - Traces as far back to the year 1612 to men known as Kabuki-mono (the crazy ones) - Known as "masterless" samurai, "ronin" - Generally samurai unemployed during the long peaceful times - Several of them banded together and began to wander around Japan as a band of robbers - Distinct characteristics from which they could be automatically identified: - Odd clothing style, distinct haircuts, bad behaviour, long swords - Also know for ruthless behaviour, terrorizing all surrounding areas, stabbing for pleasure - Gave their groups scary names and spoke in vulgar slang
Vory v Zakone History (4): The Russian Revolution
- Political enemies of the new state recruited members from traditional and professional criminals - "Political" vs. "Traditional" criminals - Political criminals became heads of juvenile criminal groups called "Zhigani"
Zhigani (P, L: WFACM)
- Predecessors of the Vory y Zakone - As the "ideological" opposition to the new communist state, the Zhigani developed the following laws 1. Forbidden to work or take part in society 2. Forbidden to have a family (postoiannaia sem'ia) 3. Forbidden to take up arms on behalf of the state 4. Forbidden to cooperate with authorities as a witness or victim 5. Obliged to contribute money for the common good - These were laws that members had to adhere to, very similar to the mafia
Yakuza and Politics (5): Noboru Takeshita
- Prime Minister - Facing harassment from far-right opponents leading up to the 1987 election, he turned to Tokyo's largest Yakuza group, Inagawa-kai - Exposed how comfortable Japan's ruling elite were with organized crime
The Year of the Dragon
- Released in 1985 - Directed by Michael Cimino - Includes several racist elements: - War on china town as if all inhabitants were part of the Triads - Main protagonist says he is not corruptible because he is not italian - The showdown - the triad member commits suicide almost evoking the japanese ritual of Harakin
The Yakuza Origins: Heirs of Samurai
- Some have suggested that the Yakuza are the true heirs of the samurai. - Both are organized into strong hierarchal systems based on honour and subservience - Both regard violence as an efficient way to get things done - Both have a strong sense of tradition and pride
Vory v Zakone History (7): World War II and the Bitch War
- Stalin promised freedom to all prisoners willing to join the army - However, one of the rules had been that you couldn't join the army - Part of the brotherhood responded to the call to defend the motherland, while others elected to remain in prison to remain faithful to their oath - After the War, Stalin did not maintain his promise and sent back to prison the Thieves who fought during the war - The leavers were then confronted by those who kept their word, who saw those who went to as traitors - Identified as such "cyka" (literally "bitch") the "soldiers" were dealt with savagely: many were brutally slain, sentenced to death by the Thieves' court - The prison guards allowed this massacre to continue, liking that they were killing each other - After the death of Stalin, 8 million prisoners were released
Vory v Zakone: Tattoos
- Tattoos are found on all parts of the body - Thieves are famous for the tattoos, even more so than the Yakuza - Thieves' tattoos are often their history: - church spires denote the number of prison sentences the wearer has undergone - Religious messages are often printed on chests and arms - "O Lord, Save Thy Slave" - "With God I'll be" - A tombstone with wings might indicate that someone had died, that "a life has flown away" - A domino with six spots on it indicates the wearer has come to grip with being a prisoner and has given up on hope of freedom - A suit of cards indicates a professional gambler - The most prominent of the Thieves' tattoos is the eight-pointed star of the vory v zakone - The same tattoos on the kneecaps means the wearer takes a position of anarchy against the rest of society: "I won't bow to any other power; I cannot be made to fall on my knees" - The unofficial wearing of the star, and of several other identifiers, often leads to its removal, usually by knife or blade - Tattoos are forcibly put on the face of non-Thief prisoners. - A child molester: fly - An informer: camp slang for "informant" - see Eastern Promises
Yakuza and Politics (4): The LDP
- The Liberal Democrat Party - Has ruled for 54 of the last 58 years - Extensively links to Yakuza - First LDP Prime Minister, Nobusuke Kishi, was heavily involved with Yamaguchi-gumi - Provided bail for a Yamaguchi-gumi leader convicted of murder - Attended several Yakuza funerals and weddings
Yakuza Post WWII
- The Yakuza was on the forefront of the anti-Communist movement - common theme of many organizations working against communism - In one famous incident in 1952 Yakuza thugs surrounded the parliament building in Tokyo to keep out left-leaning legislators while the Subversive Activities Bill was passed
Yakuza Big Bosses: Kazuo Taoka
- The Yamaguchi-gumi - Incredible rise of this crime syndicate is attributed to Kazua Taoka, the "godfather of godfathers" - Orphan - In 1946 became new kumicho of the Yamaguchi clan - Under he is leadership, the clan evolved to the city's largest gang
Eastern Promises
- The character played by Viggo Mortensen sits in his underwear in front o fa panel of members of the Russian mafia who are reading the tattoos on his body in an effort to literally read his character. The tattoos reveal that Mortensen was a their who had spent time in a siberian prison and that he was noncooperative in prison, spending a lot of tim win solitary confinement. - becomes a made member of the Russian Mafia through a ceremony in which he is asked to renounce his parents - after he passes the initiation test, he is marked with three new tattoos, including a ten pointed star on each shoulder and a star on his knew. These indicate his status as a new member of the Russian mafia.
The Vorovskoi Mir
- The criminal underworld of the vory - Heavily tattooed, the very almost without exception have spent time in the brutal Soviet gulag system - They have their own slang and silent ways of communicating using hand signals
The Triads History (1): Chih Meh
- The earliest group linked to the origin of the Triads are the Chih Meh, or Red Eyebrows - They were a secret society of warriors, dedicated to the overthrowing of the despot Wan Mang in 25CE - Gained their name from the practice of painting their eyebrows red to look like demons, in order to inspire fear in their enemies - The Chil Meh operated in the Shandong province of China and exhibited all the characteristics of a later group that evolved into modern Triads: a resistance movement with mystical beliefs that eventually turned to crime as brigands roaming the country
Vory v Zakone History (5): Zhigani vs. Urki Conflict
- The lower ranks of the hierarchy began to disobey the Zhigani and promoted their own leaders, Urki - The conflict created the need to perfect the Code
The Triads: Naming the Organization
- The society never named itself as a Triangle or Triad. Dr. William Milne of Malacca, a missionary, in 1821 coined the term - As there is no Chinese word for secret societies, Chinese writers historically referred to them as sects (jiaomen) and political associations (huidang)
The Triads: 36 Oaths
- The triads have 36 oaths - They are inscribed on sheets of paper in the lodge where the initiation ritual takes place - New members swear loyalty to their fellow members and declare that they will never deceive or be disloyal to them - Promise to help the family of other members if asked to do so and always to be courteous and friendly towards them - Pledge never to betray the secrets of the organization to outsiders - "I shall suffer death by five thunderbolts if I do not keep this oath" - "I shall always acknowledge my Hung brothers when they identify themselves. If I ignore them, I will be killed by myriads of swords." - "I shall be loyal and faithful and shall endeavour to overthrow Ch'ing and restore Ming by coordinating my efforts with those of my sworn "brothers". Our common goal is to avenge our Five Ancestors - The Ch'ing and Ming were dynasties in China and this allusion to the past is intended to connect the Triads to Chinese history - Once a member, there is no turning back: "If I should change my mind and deny my membership I will be killed by myriads of swords"
The Tong
- The word Tong ("meeting hall") surfaced in the nineteenth century. - Referred to social organizations helping Chinese immigrants adapt to US and Canada as labourers. - Exploitation of the immigrants was Rampant - At a certain point, however, criminal elements emerged within the Tongs, until the whole organization became criminal - Gambling, prostitution, drug trafficking - Wars ensued among the Tong factions, with the survivors forming a new kind of street gang, separate from the Triads, who trace their origins to ancient legends
Vory v Zakone Conditions of Initiation
- These are conditions that the members need to follow in order to be accepted into the group - They are different from other crime organizations we've studied - Includes: - Must never have worked a legitimate job - Never have been a policeman, soldier, or tax collector - Must renounce ties to family - Must never speak to authorities or cooperate with them
The Yakuza Origins: Macho-Yakko
- They believe themselves to be from Machi-yakko: - because of the negative ideas around the Kabuki-mono, they prefer to be seen as coming from the Machi-Yakko ("city servants"), even though it is a far less likely hypothesis - Born in 1612 circa to contrast the arrogant and violent samurai - Machi-yakko became the people's heroes, praised by the citizens for their help against Kabuki-mono - They were often weaker, far less trained and equipped than the Kabuki-mono - Chivalry: another common trait amongst organized crime groups; part of the myth - Compared to England's Robin Hood
The Triads: Anti-Chinese Prejudice
- Throughout history, the Triads have been used as an excuse for anti-Chinese prejudice
The Triads: The Initiation Rite
- Triad recruits must undergo a ritual that is evocative of Buddhist ceremonies - They learn secret handshakes, subtle facial expressions, and gesture signs - Superstition plays a central role in the ritual. The way chopsticks are held or set down and the number of fingers used to grasp a goblet signify importance to members - Language is also part of the ritual - Watch.
Vory v Zakone History (9): Fall of the Iron Curtain + Mafia Analogy
- When the Iron Curtain came down in 1991, the Thieves, although most had been imprisoned in the Gulags, emerged stronger and tougher - When the wall falls, and the judicial, political, and financial structures of the USSR is in disarray, the only structured, cohesive and disciplined organization were the Thieves - Analogy between italy and russia; in italy in 1861 when they became a unified nation, there was confusion and people expressed concern about their rights to own property; the state wasn't able to protect their rights, and so the criminal organizations stepped in to provide protection - Same in russia; during transition, Russian mafia provided private protection to citizens and property-owners, etc. who were looking for providers and protectors in the wake of a confused and incapable state; able to hire people formerly apart of the USSR like the KGB, made the mafiya a powerful group that could expand - In a suddenly wide-open market place they appeared ostensibly as the only organizations capable of getting anything accomplished
The Yakuza Today
- Yakuza as a necessary evil; you will not have run ins with smaller organizations because yakuza has the territory and will not attack tourists - some like them in principle, because they have been on the side of the yakuza i.e. in tsunami relief efforts - they are definitely actors - until 1992 there was no law against yakuza; they had business cards, etc. - the largest family owns a newspaper; portrays in positive way - movie star quality; biggest news for the day
The Yakuza Origins: Peter B. E. Hill
- Yakuza expert Peter B. E. Hill argues that the Robin Hood and Samurai links are not accurate - Says that the Yakuza are more closely linked to insurgent criminals who defined themselves by their "reactionary political views, exaggerated attire, elaborate rituals and defiant self-exclusion" and grew out of three groups: - Bakuto gamblers (first recorded in 17th century) - Tektite itinerant peddlers - Civil defence groups used by the Tokugawa shogunate (the last feudal Japanese military government which existed between 1603-1868) in the early 17th century to combat reactionary insurgent gangs
Yakuza and Politics (4): As Campaign workers
- Yakuza members operate as campaign workers and bodyguards during elections - Yakuza gangs are abel to guarantee a certain number of votes for their favourite candidate - The chairman of a Yakuza gang in Kyoto once boasted he provided 30,000 votes to elect a particular governor
Yakuza and Women
- exclusively male; the only woman expected to play any role is the leader's wife, sales ane-san "older sister" - not allowed to get involved in any of the criminal enterprises or to give advice of any kind - women thought to lack courage, most important trait, and are seen as wives not warriors, who would be unfit to fight to the death
Vory v Zakone Structure
- hierarchical - overseen by a "circle of brothers", an elite band of policymakers who impose their will in an informal manner. The basic officers consist of pakhan/krestnii motets (godfather/boss),and a group of boyeviky (soldiers)
Yakuza Tattoos
- initially, tattoos were signs of nobility in Japan - Use of tattoos by criminals originated in the Kofun period (300-600 CE) and was originally placed on criminals by authorities to make it easier to recognize outlaws - In the 1800s, the authorities banned tattoos worn in public because of their criminal connotations, so tattooing continued underground - It was legalized after the occupation forces entered Japane in 1945 - The original Yakuza criminal tattoo was a band inked around the criminals arm, each ring indicating a rime committed - Irezumi ("insert ink") is the name of Japanese traditional tattoos, used also by Yakuza members - Extensive tattooing that often covers the body of a Yakuza member from necks to ankles - and has become a tradition among Yakuza - Though not obligatory, tattooing indicates the ability to withstand pain and commitment to the Yakuza life - they make it difficult to integrate back into society - not just biography like other organizations, most Yakuza tattoos focus on Japanese history and mythology - Dragons and koi: wealth and prosperity - Samurai warrior: honour and moral code - Geisha: fertility, good fortune, tradition - Fudo myoo: guardian of the buddhist treasure; angry spirit; found in the most powerful members - Other traditional Japanese designs: - Lotus flowers - Cherry blossoms - Tigers
The Vor
- keeper of the code (vorovskoi zakon) which guided his behaviour and that of his followers - ultimate arbiter of 'thieves' justice (Vorovskaia spravedlivost), settling disputes and sanctioning any violations of the code - very similar to mafia boss
Yakuza and Politics (1): General
- long standing links to the country's political parties - demonstrates another universal principle is the tie to political parties - in some way, the Yakuza were always working with the ruling classes of some cities and received legitimization that they needed
The Vory v Zakone
- thieves with a code - occupied a place of great respect and authority in the former USSR underworld - like other criminal organizations, was also in cahoots with power
Vory v Zakone History (3): 3 Changes in the 19th Century (SO, DT, CB)
1. Creation of a structured organization 2. Introduces division of tasks - As soon as the organization becomes powerful, everyone has something specific to do; not rigid, subject to change - If on the one hand, the division of tasks gives organizational value, it is also what creates conflict 3. First signs of a criminal boss
Vory v Zakone History (2): 5 Changes in the 18th Century (O, I, M, A, N)
1. Increased levels of organization 2. Indoctrination into criminal groups - Indoctrination: reasons why you are joining the group, generally cloaked as noble 3. Introduction of the membership fee 4. Use of nicknames 5. Use of argot (Fenia) - Argot: slang, became an identifying trait
The Four Main Yakuza groups (Y, I, S, K)
1. Yamaguchi-gumi - Godfather: Kenichi Shined (imprisoned) - HQ: Kobe City - Members, 20,300 2. Inagawa-kai - Godfather: Yoshio Tsunoda (died 2010, successor unknown) - HQ: Tokyo - Members: 4,800 3. Sumiyoshi-kai - Godfather: Shigeo Nishiguchi - HQ: Tokyo - Members: 6,100 4. Kodo-kai - Godfather: Satoru Nomura - HQ: Fukuoka - Members: 4,000
Yakuza Big Bosses: Kenichi Shinoda
Sixth and curent kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest Yakuza organization