Once in the Mob, Always in the Mob. The Collapse of the Yakuza: A Tale in Three Acts. Part III
How changing laws are reshaping the criminal world in Japan
Once in the Mob, Always in the Mob
The collapse of Japan’s bubble economy in the late 80s drastically changed the structure and operation of organised crime groups across the country. With less money floating around the Japanese economy, it was difficult for the Yakuza to continue their operations in the same capacity.
Organisations began to split, and avenues such as financial markets and construction began to be substituted with drugs, prostitution and for some smaller groups, petty crime and street fighting.
In an attempt to fight back against the increasing levels of crime, the Japanese government periodically introduced new laws to attack Yakuza, until, finally, they made a move that would impact the Yakuza harder than ever. These were the Boryokudan (Yakuza) Exclusion Ordinances, introduced across Japan, enforced first in Tokyo, 2011.
The Heisei era (1989-2019)
The Heisei era in Japan saw some of the most violent periods in the nations recent history. From the sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo cult in 1995, to the increased violence from biker gangs and on going Yakuza feuds.
The introduction of Yakuza Exclusion Ordinances were a new tactical approach by the Japanese government to counter Yakuza operations.
The Japanese government is seeking to shift the battle from a Yakuza vs. the Police framing to a Yakuza vs. the People. Rather than fighting the Yakuza directly, this allows the police to rely more on social pressure and stigma to isolate and impact the Yakuza in a more indirect way, rather than criminal punishment.
These exclusion ordinances impact businesses, services and private citizens. Many Yakuza talk about how their lives have been greatly impacted by the introduction of these new social pressures.
First introduced in Tokyo, these laws incentivise companies not to cooperate or collude with organised crime groups. The price for being linked to the Yakuza can be public humiliation, loss of revenue, legal punishment, revocation of licenses and termination of rental agreements. Individuals can be fired from their jobs or forced to resign.
This places responsibility on civilians to lead the battle against Yakuza.
The Tokyo ordinances include, but are not limited to: