2 yakuza members arrested for obstructing Sanja Festival

their office

I spit on their holding of office in Asakusa

unlawfully maneuvered a large mikoshi

Now, there's crime you don't see everyday.

May be they were under paid by the organizer ...

Arrested...then released with a polite apology from the police

They will be caught by either KyokuTou or Inagawa Tekiya tough guys and to be tortured if lucky and released. No no for yaku to obstruct tekiyas; business territories (niwaba) such as shrines and temples, especially in Tokyo.

I don't quite understand the charges.

Nor do I understand how bosozoku can roam free doing worse.

Arrested, yeah right, the police would never arrest Yak.

Scumbags.

Most likely drunk.

I think that was a pretty cool stunt, especially flashing their tattoos. Were those attendees actually victimized by this incident? Let them guide the shrine near their office, no big deal.

I'd guess that the festival organizers did not seek the Yakz "permission" so these 2 meat heads though they should go show how tough they are. All mouth no trousers, noisy scum & @Reckless i'd guess 90% of them couldnt fight there way out of paper bags.

My only suprise in this day & age is that they didn't get their eyes poked out by tourists with "selfie Sticks!-you can't fix stupid!

@ Reckless... perfect name. Heck, I'm sure some Yakuza members might not look like much and some might not be the greatest of fighters.... but do you really want to find out. If you show a Yakuza up in public.... you're asking for it and I doubt he'll stop until he gets his revenge. The average Japanese citizen keeps their distance for good reason. In addition... I'll bet the cops arrested these two because they probably crossed the unwritten rule in Japan. Don't mess with the average citizens unless they get into your business.

Can yaks really fight or are people just scared of tattoos?

Even if they cannot fight, it's their mentality which you need to beware of. Yes, people are afraid of their tatts. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you. And that was BS why these 2 got arrested. Flashing your tattoos isn't a crime. Is there a section for it in Japna's penal code?

If you do not know ANYTHING about the yakuza, you will think they are a PUSH OVER but if you mess with them and end up really hurt or dead, well it will be too late to understand why regular Japanese stay the heck away from them.

@Elbuda. Yakuza are one thing, but- Eeeee, those "Eme" with the Paw tattoos are the worst. The Mexican Eme ain't no push overs at all.

Probably yhese two will spend time in jail and after released, they will have their little fingger chopped off in Sumiyoshi ceremony (YubiTsume) to dec;are that these two are not Hitsukr (when one group want to fight against another, onw tatooed idiot will be sent to cauae trouble to another and he shiwed tattoo and create cause to battle: My guess is that oyabuns from different area are now arranging TeUchShiji to keep peace in Tokyo

"The suspects were identified as Shuichi Obitsu, a 46–year-old executive member of organized crime group Sumiyoshi-kai"

I'm curious, but this activity seems a little below someone who is an "executive" and of some age in the org. I'm wondering why an "executive" would be doing this opposed to some low ranking kobun.

I also don't get why they would got through the trouble of hauling out a large mikoshi, then try to scare people off with tatts and taunts? It would be like a guy dressed in a mascott costume jumping around and shouting "look at me" while his assistant is in a suit snapping and shaking his fist at the onlookers, "What are you looking at?"

@Aaron: I think misinterpretation of Aniki.Probably Police notified arresting these two to Sumiyoshi and real executive (Kanbu) said Thank you for notifying. Please keep them in Kangoku (jail) while our man will look for our member list book. When you go to their bakuchi ba. oyabun and kanbus do not have tattoos but they are sharp in probability and statistics.

So all oyabun have all their tattoos laser removed upon reaching their rank, or do they all just happen to be far sighted enough to never get any tattoos?

@Magnus:peopel who worked up through Sokaiya easily beccome Oyabun. People who love Kurikaramonmon and violence usually do not have orgamization control skill. Oyabons have to face politicians and wealthy customers in their fambling houses.They can not afford losing customers.

Thanks Toshiko san, very interesting information, so were these guys just stupid and drunk?? Or are they trying to get money and more power from their rivals?

toshiko, where all the expertise on the Yaks. were you once a Yak's moll?

I like to picture Toshiko running a Vegas sports book.

@rorasanL if I am 22 yrs old jobless ,,, but I only watch Angels and Dodgers so I will not qualify.

There's an onsen located in Asakusa not less than 3 minutes from ROX. Go in there at your own risk. It's totally Yak controlled even though the signage makes it appear International and welcoming to foreigners

Depending on your attitude they mostly just talk. They like to talk loudly but you don't usually see them cross that invisible line that defines assault and battery.

If you are a girl you never have to worry. Girls are completely safe from them.

Asakusa: You mean Sentou? Onsen Hot Spring in Asakusa?

Couple of google reviews of 蛇骨湯 (Snake Bone Hot Water) (http://www.jakotsuyu.co.jp/):

If you're looking for an Onsen with great views, this is not it. However, if you're looking for a traditional Onsen place (that is foreigner, tattoo and yakuza friendly) without leaving downtown Tokyo, this is what you're looking for and the best such in the whole metropole. Dating back to the Edo period, it's luckily been renovated a couple of times ever since. Unlike many other spas in Tokyo, this one uses real onsen spring water.Mind you, this place is very hidden and you won't find it without an exact map. It's in the corner of some tiny streets, that can only be reached from a sidestreet themselves. Luckily, Google Maps has you covered.

Petit onsen traditionnel, peu cher, évidemment pas mixte mais surtout TATTOO FRIENDLY (google translate: "Small traditional onsen, inexpensive, obviously not mixed but mostly TATTOO FRIENDLY")

Mefumi #turbo: Where is pld quiet down volcano site in Asakusa?

The guy said "real onsen spring water", not geothermally-heated spring water :).

When you get there, call out "Strangerland!!!", see if anyone turns around (à la https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRlzVasTTS4#t=463 .)

English review of the onsen: http://onsensoaker.blogspot.com/2011/06/jakotsuyu-asakusa-downtown-tokyo.html

Here is Japanese link at the official site, re the water at Snake Bone Hot Water (onsen), with Google translation below.

http://www.jakotsuyu.co.jp/tokucho/index.html

(Google Translate) (Photo1) Black hot water, unlike the volcanic hot springs, with cold mineral springs that could be by the components of the grass and leaves buried in Paleozoic is blend in groundwater, Kanagawa Prefecture Yokosuka, distributed hot spring pulse along the Tokyo Bay from around Kamakura cage you. Yokugo warm to the core of the body and is a feature that does not Yuzame. ...(Photo2) 5 minutes walk from Senso-ji Temple, and entered the alley from Kokusai Street "snake bone hot water (Jakotsuyu)" the public bath there is a history that has continued since the Edo era. All hot water will use the groundwater, to adapt to the Article 2 hot spring method, it is a natural hot spring of "meta-silicate" and "bicarbonate of soda". ... (Photo3) Appearance, dark brown clear, is a hot spring that is commonly called "black water" in the fine salty odorless.

I would be laughing my butt off instead of being scared. Sorry but people have tried to intimidate me and it doesn't work. It has the opposite effect: I laugh.

I thought the yaks ran the Sanja Festival.