Yakuza. The Socioeconomic Roles of Organized Crime in Japan

Abstract The article describes the major activities and organizational structures of Japan’s organized crime syndicates. It analyses the conformity-enforcing social, political, quasi-legal and economical roles of this "unique" Japanese institution. However, its toleration by - and frequent tacit collaboration with - Japan’s power elite runs the risk of eroding legitimacy for Japan’s inadequate political and legal system, since the Japanese lower and middle classes have to bear the growing costs of the activities of the Yakuza whose various foreign and domestic ventures have already begun to affect Japan’s international relations and world standing negatively. Japan’s political power holders however appear unable - or unwilling - to cope effectively with the problem.