Pop Japan

The Yakuza is a term for organized crime groups in Japan. It is the Japanese version of Mafia, with a more civilized front. 

The Yakuza is also known as the ‘Gokudo’, translated as the ‘extreme path’. The police and media calls them ‘Boryokudan’ or ‘violent groups’, while the Yakuza identifies themselves as a ‘ninkyo dantai’ or a ‘chivalrous organization’. 

While the word ‘Yakuza’ originated from the numbers 8-9-3 from the card game Oicho-Kabu, the origin of the organization itself is debated.  While the Yakuza can be traced to the 17th century, it wasn’t until World War Two that the Yakuza came to power. 

Today, the Yakuza’s membership has declined to an estimated 102, 000 members internationally. 

Tags: yakuza, japanese mafia, mafia, gokudo, violent groups, boryokudan, chivalrous, oicho kabu, world war two, yakuza membership