members of traditional transnational organized crime syndicates in Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yakuza (Japanese: ヤクザ, IPA: [jaꜜkɯza]), known also as gokudō (極道, "the extreme path", IPA: [gokɯꜜdoː]), are members of transnational organized crime syndicates in Japan.
| Yakuza | |
|---|---|
Yakuza members displaying their status at Sanja Matsuri | |
| Founded | 17th century (presumed to have originated from the Kabukimono) |
| Membership | more than 200,000 members[1] |
| Criminal activities | Varied, including illegitimate businesses |
Yakuza call themselves ninkyō dantai (chivalrous organizations) which the Japanese media and police call them bōryokudan (violence group). They are the world's largest criminal organization and have about 103,000 members.[2][3] The three biggest Yakuza families are Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai. During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, they opened their offices to help refugees and sent dozens of trucks with supplies to affected areas.[4]
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