Whatever the genesis of the yakuza, in modern times they are involved in some very real, very dark activities. A few of their greatest sources of revenue include sex, drugs and pachinko.
SEX
Japan has successfully commoditized sex and made it into a thriving business. It's difficult to determine how much of the economic pie the "entertainment industry" fills; some sources estimate that it might be as high as 2-3% of Japan's GDP, double that of its agriculture sector. The main reason why estimates are difficult is because the industry is run predominantly by the yakuza, and their books aren't necessarily open to the Japanese government.
Technically, prostitution is illegal in Japan. However, loopholes in the law make it actually one of the most sexually permissive countries in the world. For one thing, prostitution is defined as reaching coitus. Other forms of sex and sexual favors fall outside of this definition, and are therefore considered legal. Moreover, the penalties for prostitution are unspecified and therefore don't pose much of a deterrent.
Amorous encounters run a gamut; at one end of the spectrum are host and hostess bars where men and women can spend their free time enjoying the scintillating company (and absurdly expensive drinks) of charming and attractive companions. These liaisons aren't necessarily sexual, though lines can be crossed. Slightly less innocent are the pornographic magazines and manga (which can be handily covered with brown paper when you buy them so that no one knows what you're reading on the train), and objectifying women at maid cafes.
I've had more than one visitor (all male) who asked if there were really such things as vending machines of used panties. They seemed to think that they stood on every corner, and were disappointed to learn that panty machines are mostly a myth, though there are apparently some examples in existence.
There are far more detestable facets to the sex industry. Domestic recruiting is on the rise in subways and on playgrounds, targeting teenagers and children with offers to make them into models or give them work at lucrative clubs. The yakuza also run extensive human trafficking operations, bringing in girls (and boys) from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe. They are lured to Japan with promises of jobs as waitresses or staff at tourism operations, and are essentially held hostage and forced to work in hostess clubs and other establishments. By some metrics, Japan "has one of the most severe human trafficking problems among the major industrialized democracies." And the yakuza are the beneficiaries.
DRUGS
At the beginning of 2013 I found on my desk at school an official memo from the JET Program reminding everyone that as residents in Japan, we must abide by Japanese laws, specifically those concerning drugs. Though there was no mention of this in the memo, I later learned that a JET had been found with drugs or drug paraphernalia in their bags. This put into context my reception at the airport when I returned to Japan after winter vacation. Until then, customs had been a breeze; I would hand over my declaration form, tell them I'm an English teacher, and they'd wave me through. No longer. Instead, 2013 has proven a record year for being stopped and searched at customs.
Japan has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs. Even looking at drugs can earn you a lengthy jail sentence.* And yet, the yakuza still find ways to smuggle drugs into the country, though some syndicates ban members from participating in the drug trade. However, some yakuza are willing to take the risk in order to receive a lucrative payoff. The scarcity of drugs in Japan is such that the yakuza can charge exorbitant amounts for relatively small quantities; one article cited that 1 kilogram of "illegal stimulants" would fetch about $70,000 in Japan. In America, 1 kilogram of cocaine fetches between $24,000 and $27,000. Granted, it's hard to compare the two given how vague the term "illegal stimulants" is; however, any way you look at it, $70,000 for one kilo of a product is pretty high (no pun intended).
*Of course, Japanese drug laws pale in comparison to other countries. On a flight to Cambodia last year, the flight attendant came on the loudspeaker shortly before landing and said, "This is to let you know that Cambodia has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, and that possession or use of drugs is punishable by death. So please, if you have any drugs or drug paraphernalia on you right now, I urge you to please dispose of it before we land."
PACHINKO
You can hear pachinko parlors before you see them. Their deafening music and flashing neon signs are enough to induce a seizure. Pachinko is a bit like combining a slot machine with pinball, but more complex. Winning at pachinko can yield a lot of money. The only catch? Gambling is technically illegal in Japan. However, the yakuza who run pachinko have found a way around the law.
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| Playing pachinko. From bbc.co.uk. |
Let's say you win at pachinko. You'd receive a small prize, usually something cheap and kitschy. You'd then take this prize out of the pachinko facility, and walk a short ways down the street to a window that has been blacked out. Below the window is a deposit slot like you might see at a bank. You put the prize in the slot, shut the door, and then wait for it to open again. Presto, change-o, the prize has been magically transformed into money.
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| Pachinko prizes. From linkrandom.blogspot.com. |
By some estimates, the Japanese drop $200 billion a year on pachinko, and lose $40 billion. The house may not always win, but they win quite a bit of the time. This is bad news for pachinko addicts, of which there are many. Men and women have lost everything while in the thrall of the game: jobs, savings, families. It's hard to estimate how many people are addicted to pachinko, since addiction is a source of shame and goes underreported.
I asked The Grannies why, if gambling is illegal, the police don't put a stop to it. Their response was interesting: some former police officers work security at pachinko parlors after they retire, suggesting that the police may have some kind of mutually beneficial relationship with the yakuza. Thus, there isn't a whole lot of incentive for the police to crack down on the game.
IT'S NOT ALL BAD?
Despite the grim reputation of the yakuza, they claim that they do actual good for their communities. Following the earthquake and the tsunami in Fukushima, the yakuza allegedly transported some of the first emergency supplies into the disaster area. However, it's a little difficult to feel good about these claims amidst news that the yakuza have been also manipulating the aftermath of the crisis in order to secure cleanup jobs for its members. The laborers then give a cut of their earnings back to their bosses in the gang. So in effect, the money that the government is pouring into cleaning up Fukushima is winding up in the pockets of organized crime.
It's a sobering thought, how deeply the yakuza have managed to permeate Japanese society. However, as badly as members of the government and the police may want to eradicate the yakuza, it's doubtful that they will ever truly disappear from Japanese society. At least it provides fodder for movies like The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
