Crime and Violence in Japan

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Crime and Violence in Japan

Yakuza

Yakuza means 8+9+3 which adds up to 20. In Japan there is a game calld oichu-kabu, which is similar to blackjack. This is meant to mean that they are worthless. This is because all of the members are misfits, poor, and just don't fit into the society. It does not matter where your from or who you are, yakuza is a family for them.

The yakuza's origin comes from 1612 when a group of ronin (ownerless samuri) called kabuki-mono roamed the streets killing people for pleasure. But these were not the ancestors of the yakuza, they see machi-yako (city defenders) as their ancestors. The machi-yako protected society from these ronin.

The current yakuza came in the 18th century. They were made of two classes the gamblers (bakuto), and the street vendors (tekiya). Another class came during the occupation of Japan. The rationing of food the US did made black markets, which in turn made gangs rich. The new class was street hustlers (gurenti).

Soon anyone who opposed yakuza became endangered. The new yakuza, that was modeled after the US mob, had 180,000 members more than the Japanese Army.

The yakuza head up major corporations in Japan to help fund their real business. They also use these fronts to keep out the police. Though they have lost much of their numbers, the yakuza can act as a court for people, though the end is more violent.

Yakuza Organization

Yakuza Crimes

Yakuza commits many crimes, but these are some of the main crimes they commit.

  • Moneylaundering
  • Assassination/Murder
  • Drugs
  • Weapon Dealing
  • Hard Core Pornography
  • Extortion
  • Smuggling
  • Rigging Sports Events

    Criminal Punishment

    In Japan there is no mandatory sentencing. This means the judge may do whatever he likes. Since there are no sentencing guide lines, a judge can give you 1 year for murder, and a life sentence for shop-lifting. Usually, judges do similar punishments, but this is not required.

    The Victims of Crimes

    Most crimes are commited against people who oppose or upset the yakuza. This was the case when a film-maker made a movie making the yakuza look evil. They vandalized the man's house.

    Youth Crimes are steadily rising in Japan, and this is true especially in the middle schools. These kids attack teachers, and vandilize the school.

    Youth Crimes

    Japanese youths were 35% nore active in knife crimes in 1997 since 1995, and 71% since 1993. The contributors to the youth crimes are:

    • the home life
    • media
    • contemporary youth pastimes

    Parents let kids do whatever if they have good grades. They seldom pay attention to kids, since they are very hard-working. They have so little time, they don't bother to teach their children right from wrong. All the kids have are bloody cartoons which tell them to kill in order to win. Guns are almost impossible for kids to obtain, so the children use knives. Now parents can control the TV with a V-chip, and juvenile laws are being revised, Japan expects a less violent youth group. The kids, seem not to care though.

    Weapons used in Crimes in Japan

    Though they use to use swords, the yakuza had modernized and so has the rest of the criminals in Japan. They mostly use firearms, especially pistols. Though children can not obtain them, kids just use knives.

    Bibliography

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