The Yakuza Direct

: Numbers have dropped from 180,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 25,000 today. The Future of the Syndicate

The foundations of the Yakuza trace back to the Edo period (1603–1868). They emerged primarily from two distinct groups: the Tekiya and the Bakuto.

: Internal conflicts have led to the breakdown of major groups like the Yamaguchi-gumi. The Yakuza

: Elaborate, full-body hand-poked tattoos signify strength and commitment.

: The ritual of cutting off a finger joint as an apology for failure. : Numbers have dropped from 180,000 in the

: Significant historical influence over the Japanese music and film industries.

Since the 1990s, the Japanese government has intensified its crackdown on organized crime. : Numbers have dropped from 180

: Involvement in "Jiageya" (land sharking) to force property sales.