Are The Yakuza Really that dangerous ?
My late grandfather worked in Japan for 30 years, and this is what he told me.
The Yakuza and the police have an implicit agreement that as long as their worlds do not collide and the Yakuza keep their own problems to themselves, the police will generally leave them alone.
This is generally the case. This arrangement is understood and adhered to by the older, more professional gang members. Any problems usually stem from want tobes like the chimpira (low-level punks) trying to make a name for themselves, as well as other assorted scum like bosozoku (motorcycle gangs).
But that doesn't mean they should be taken lightly. These are professional criminals with henchmen who would murder you with a simple nod from their bosses. Their businesses range from the usual prostitution, protection rackets, and extortion to 'legitimate' waste disposal, government contracts, and the like. Because their earnings are in the billions, they aren't interested in the minutiae.
My grandfather used to volunteer for the homeless with a Belgian friend of his. They would gather with a group of Japanese people and go out into the streets, bringing food and blankets for the homeless.
"It was your typical group of ordinary people who want to contribute to society in their own small way." However, he stated that there was one short, stocky man with a shaved head who was also assisting. However, we noticed that no one wanted to talk to him.
He appeared to be in his mid-60s and seemed pleasant enough, so we walked alongside him and chatted. He turned out to be an Oyabun. In essence, he was a Yakuza godfather. He ruled over large swaths of Tokyo's Shinjuku district, as well as parts of Yokohama (where we lived) and Chiba. He used to work in the Japanese Navy before joining the mob and selling surplus navy equipment.
He was friendly and funny, but he had that glint in his eye that told you he could and would shank you if necessary. We thought he was fascinating, but we could see all the looks the Japanese were giving us. We were foreigners, so what did it matter? We were just chatting as we went around.
When I asked him why he was doing this, he said it was to atone for his sins. He was married, but he had a mistress nearby and spent time with both of them. He told us about his life, about how they would bring in Colombian women to work in the clubs, bars, and whorehouses, and about how he was always the first to'sample' the merchandise.
He told us that if we ever went to the entertainment districts, we should mention his name and we'd be treated well. If we had any problems, we should remind him of his name and that we were his friends.
It was tempting, but we decided not to participate. Take a favor from these guys, and you never know what kind of favor they'll want in return. Also, we might use his name in the wrong context with a rival gang, and who knows what would happen to us.
The best thing to do is keep any fascination with these people to yourself and give them a wide berth if you have no reason to interact with them. —————- "I'll let you in on a little secret, the Yakuza game isn't like boxing." The man who is beaten is not the loser. He who can't hold out until the end is the one who loses."
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