These are the transactions that are made through legal and proper business. However, there are some that would say that Japan isn't as pure as it seems to be. One of the most influential and underground crime organizations is known as the yakuza.
Mostly known for their extreme ways of ideals and fully elaborate body tattoos, the yakuza have major influences on the political and social world. As stated, the most notable feature that separates them from normal civilians is the body tattoos that they are forced to receive to be initiated in.
The origin of the word 'yakuza' comes from the Japanese card game similar to that of Baccarat. The losing hand is 8-9-3, which in Japanese would translate to "ya-ku-za". There are five major clans and each clan is divided by families with one person housing the name of that family. The leader of the entire clan, the chairman, overseas all operations within the clan. Whether it will be drug smuggling, arms dealing and land distribution, the chairman has to keep order within the clan in order for it to survive.
However, in recent years the yakuza is seen as a dying breed. Not many men or women are joining the clans for whatever reasons. The major clan, the Yamaguchi-gumi, which was formed in 1915, has more than 23,000 members as of 2015.
Even though they are involved with some illicit activities, they have also opened up their clan for some relief efforts, such as the 2011 earthquake in Japan.
Seeing that the yakuza are somewhat dying, the influence that they have on Japan's politics are surly felt throughout the entire country. For what they are worth, they do have a major impact on the everyday lives of everyone in Japan.
Whether you agree with their ideals or not, they have had one of the most major influences in the Japanese culture and may have also shaped the way that Japan in any way shape or form, have made their mark in Japanese legend and folk lore.
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