Police urge vigilance against yakuza gang violence

I believe it's that the activities they engage in are illegal but that holding a membership to one of the groups is not.

I believe it's that the activities they engage in are illegal but that holding a membership to one of the groups is not.

So why can't they change THAT law?? If they can change the constitution they can make it illegal to join these groups, and problem solved. We won't need to be vigilant or anything.

Japanese police called Wednesday for nationwide vigilance against possible gang violence

For some reason the words "Police" and "Crime Prevention" pop into my mind. I've got a feeling that they are normally linked.

So why can't they change THAT law?? If they can change the constitution they can make it illegal to join these groups, and problem solved. We won't need to be vigilant or anything.

It probably comes down to the right of association, which is viewed by many constitutions worldwide as a basic right. Of course, this same right represents a legal loophole through which the unscrupulous pass, however, cracking down on a basic constitutional right just to keep certain elements of society from associating with one another opens up a whole can of worms.

Just make it illegal to be a member of a group which engages in illegal activities......

But unlike their foreign counterparts, they are not illegal and each of the designated groups have their own headquarters.

Wow. Really? What a country. All that cash flow coming from the streets and or white collar crimes keep those bellies full of those in their headquarters.

"...... But unlike their foreign counterparts, they are not illegal ....”

Probably because of their associations with politicians who use them for their dirty work. (Finding employees for the Fukushima clean up comes to mind)

@Aly

So why can't they change THAT law??

That's a really good point. It is most probably as @ HongoTAFEinmate posts in relation to the right to associate.

For what it's worth, there are other loopholes the police and even businesses use to exclude yakuza. It's why public swimming pools and onsen have the 'no tattoo' rule for example.

Can't even ban Aum Shinrikyo. And what political influence do they have?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum_Shinrikyo

Attempts to ban the group altogether under the 1952 Subversive Activities Prevention Law were rejected by the Public Security Examination Commission in January 1997.

@Aly So why can't they change THAT law??

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No one can propose to change laws that do not exist.

Probably Law Enforcement officials do not oppose because if they have groups, they can keep eyes on the members' illegal activities and arrest them before too late, This tradition did not apply to YamaguchiGumi, though.