Did you know that being a member of the Yakuza isn't illegal in Japan?

 Did you know that being a member of the Yakuza isn't illegal in Japan?

Most of what people know of the Yakuza comes from films and TV shows – they’re a ruthless criminal organization based in Japan with cool-looking tattoos.

While all of this may be true, there’s so much more to Japan’s number-one mafia than meets the eye!

We’ve dug deep and found some of the most mind-blowing facts about the Yakuza, so all you need to do is sit back and read all about it!

The Japanese mafia, most commonly referred to as the Yakuza, is not outright illegal. Here’s why.

he Japanese mafia, most commonly referred to as the Yakuza, traces its origins back to as early as the 17th Century. Throughout the years, the Yakuza has kept a strict code of honor. This has allowed them to remain quasi-legal as the authorities are aware that their code of honor keeps them from disrupting public order. There are currently close to 100,000 members and have a large presence in Japan. Traditionally, they started as loosely run gambling associations, whose members were misfits and delinquents. Using Japan’s post-WWII era and subsequent economic rise of the eighties and nineties, they “progressed far beyond their traditional rackets into real estate development, stock market manipulation, and full-fledged corporate management.” (Rankin). In other words, the Yakuza spread its tentacles into political and financial circles at a blistering pace.