crime

Police raid yakuza office in Tokyo over Kabukicho shooting

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I guess you don't have to be 100% Japanese to be in the yakuza.

A lot of yakuza aren't 100% Japanese and join to feel like part of Japanese society after having been shunned as not pure.

Funny how the coppers know right where the offices are but the offices continue to function.

@Chipstar and everyone who commented on my post - My misunderstanding. I always thought the Yakuza was like the Italian/American mafia where you had to be 100% of the mother country nationality or by family members of the same nationality to be a member.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan is such an interesting place. Yakuza dudes walk around the streets dressed like this?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Don’t mess with them - they have a tall guy.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

A lot of yakuza aren't 100% Japanese and join to feel like part of Japanese society after having been shunned as not pure.

They become Yakuza to feel like part of the society as anti-social forces? too complicated.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is that the Yakuza or the Police in the picture.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Funny how when the Yakuza victim is the Japanese working man (extortion), the cops let it roll, but one fellow scumbag extortionist gets picked off and now all of a sudden there's a big problem because there was a gun used.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@smithinjapan

And this is on-topic because....?

Figures to back another poster's guess. What's wrong?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

That photograph looks like a parade and not a raid. Seriously Japanese police raids are a joke. They announce the raid, get news reporters and cameras ready then march in to apprehend criminals who know the police are coming. Keystone cops at their best.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Asakaze: "You guess right. Ethnic Koreans always were a major part of yakuza manpower, up to 15 percent. In 90s 20 percent of Inagawa-kai top leaders were ethnic Koreans."

And this is on-topic because....?

I just like the stealth they are using to raid the place... after no doubt calling first to make a reservation.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

“Heigh ho, heigh ho...”

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I agree it's hypocritical for the police to allow outlaws to operate openly, but "payoffs, prostitutes and drugs" are going on in every country I know of. So, the question is, which is better: to declare war on these activities or to have a mostly peaceful alliance?

Perhaps the European model of decriminalization + regulation would be optimal, but since that would involve changing the laws, which is next to impossible, maybe the status quo is the least-worst solution?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Chico3

I guess you don't have to be 100% Japanese to be in the yakuza

You guess right. Ethnic Koreans always were a major part of yakuza manpower, up to 15 percent. In 90s 20 percent of Inagawa-kai top leaders were ethnic Koreans.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The police tell the Yakuza before they are coming so there are "no surprises".... talk about destroy evidence!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

I guess you don't have to be 100% Japanese to be in the yakuza.

A lot of yakuza aren't 100% Japanese and join to feel like part of Japanese society after having been shunned as not pure.

Funny how the coppers know right where the offices are but the offices continue to function.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Arent the cops on the Yakuza payroll, why are the Yakuza in massive numbers (70,000) allowed to have their gang signs outside of thei office..

8 ( +9 / -1 )

"the Tokyo office of a yakuza gangster group"

I know, I know...but, How is this even a thing!??

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Men in their 50s shooting each other or at least one shooting, and the police crack down? Both are members of a criminal organisation that is registered with the police? It's not a bike. They are a violent group. Even in their 50s not so different from the LDP? Jesus save me! They know who and probably why, but seems a free pass, why? Break a lamp, 9 months detention, murder and cut up into tiny pieces 8 years. Shoot someone and it's a registered Gang thing.? Really at 50 if you are in anyway competent retire.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I guess you don't have to be 100% Japanese to be in the yakuza.

You don't.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The victim, Lee Hung Jong, 65, who was found collapsed inside a karaoke establishment with three gunshot wounds on Jan. 21, was a member of a separate group under Sumiyoshikai more than 20 years ago, 

I guess you don't have to be 100% Japanese to be in the yakuza.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Here comes the men in black.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Abe is suspected of shooting Lee from close range inside a room on the fifth floor of the karaoke establishment in Kabukicho around 6:30 p.m. on Jan 21, police said.

It almost sounds as if the PM of Japan shot the PM of S. Korea (Lee Nak-yeon)

Oh, if only JT had not released their first names..it would have been priceless.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

IOW, the Yakuza can go about their real business unhindered 24/7. But shoot some dude and the police are on it! After a few days it'll be back to usual, less shocking violence in the open but plenty of money flowing, payoffs happening, prostitutes and drugs flowing to buyers, all under the careful observation/enabling of police and politicians.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Just like I said, if the cops think it was a Yakuza they will apply pressure, and eventually someone will come forward to claim responsibility, even if they didnt do it and the cops are turning up the heat.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

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