In Japanese swordsmanship, or Kendo, Iaido, the little finger's grip is the tightest on the hilt. A little finger-amputee was therefore unable to grip his sword properly, weakening him in battle and making him more dependent on the protection of his boss.
@@mestreg5687 Tradition and honor don't mean squat in real life. Japan's traditional swordsmanship is probably why they lagged way behind Europe in warfare technology.
A video on the gangs of ancient Rome wouldbe awesome. Not many know this, but there was a very strong organised crime presence in Rome throughout most of its history.
There's a brilliant five-part film series called Battles Without Honor and Humanity (The Yakuza Papers) that came out in the mid-70s that's based on the journals of a Yakuza member. It starts after the WW2 surrender and gives a realistic, insightful look at the organization in Hiroshima as it grows throughout the years from the point of view of the foot soldiers. It's widely considered to be the most accurate cinematic depiction of that lifestyle during what was known as the Hiroshima Strife and makes no attempt at portraying it as glamorous or romantic. The series was helmed by director Kenji Fukasaku and is a high-point in an amazing career which sadly ended with his swan song Battle Royale.
@@Parialated Make sure you watch the original series! There was a reboot that was so-so at best, though it's theme song has becone really popular thanks to it being used on the Kill Bill soundtrack.
Ive seen it. It was pretty bad me and my friends all just turned it off and decided we would rather go to the dentist than watch another minute of that show
I've lived in Japan for 20 years. Luckily I've not had a direct run in with the Yakuza. But I have met those who have. One businessman had his office next door to a yakuza office. One year he was getting his parking lot repaved. Someone from next door came over and request they repave their lot as well, free of charge. The yakuza runs a lot of gamling and prostitution rings. In Nagoya they were very blatant trying to recruit women outside of the main subway station. I had a Filipino friend who worked in a casino. They were found out and all arrested. She was let go after a few days, but their boss was convicted. She said that his wife still got paid his salary while he was in prison. When the story about the Panama Papers came out, the biggest customer was the yakuza which had invested overseas $9 Billion USD according to the report.
In a situation like the paving one, I'd have told them I'd do it cheap, and not for cash. Maybe some beer or a party to take place for myself and the workers. Ask too much, they'd take it as an insult, don't stand up at all, then they see you as weak.
@@LegendStormcrow Don't think you understand. The Yakuza had an office next to my friend's father-in-law. The father-in-law was having the parking lot of his business repaved. The Yakuza came over and told him to pay for repaving their parking lot also. The father-in-law doesn't own the repaving company, but he had to pay the company double to pave the Yakuza's parking lot also.
@@rabbit251 No, I understand. You can't let them run over you, but you can't give them anything close to a fair deal because they'll take insult. Heck, just telling them to run off anyone that becomes a problem for you over the next year would be enough, even if you never call on it. I know they're criminals and dangerous. I've dealt with their kind before. You give them a deal that still has them in the black by a long shot, but not for free, or they see you as an easy mark.
I worked as a chef in a kitchen in Hawaii run by a Japanese chef. There was always something weird about the place. Then I put it together when I noticed this 'guy' with one eye and always in a suit who came around every few weeks to 'check in' on the place. NOBODY would discuss who this guy was. Yeah... got it.
I have a native friend in Japan that claims the Yakuza is also active in their politics. They won't legalize cannabis because the Yakuza does not want to legalize it. Theres pictures of political figures in big cannabis farms of the Yakuza's.
I have been WAITING for a Yakuza video from you; thanks a million. Also, PLEASE make a video about the Nazi submarine attacking North Carolina in WWII.
Like 15 years ago I found the book In The Miso Soup, in a books a million. Crazy read, definitely worth it. This video gave me context to a section of that book that I didn't totally understand at that time. It's a brutal story, highly recommend.
I was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan for 2 years and they weren’t kidding about the tattoos being frowned upon. I had a tattoo done at a parlor where they didn’t advertise because they didn’t want to attract Yakuza members for them to come & get their tattoos done there. And if we went to spas they didn’t like our tattoos being visible because of this.
Love, love, love your channel! The narrators voice is one of the best I've heard. Anyway, would you do a video on Mormons, how they own half of Vegas, the crimes they get away with in Utah, and so on. Thanks!
Their Magic Mormon Underwear protects them from accusations of wrongdoing, so that video cannot be made. This is an official proclamation made by the Elohim. Nothing, not even an alcoholic con artist pedophile, can change that.
Spent a week in Sasebo. On one particular night out, my cronies and I met a couple of said gentlemen. Extremely polite, well mannered, soft spoken, and generous. Great conversation and class summed up the evening. Needless to say our meals and drinks were covered. Great guys.
1:08 Ya and Za are the original Japanese names for 8 and 3. However, Ku is the Chinese name for 9. The Japanese adopted the Chinese numerical system for common use and only use their own in very traditional or formal settings. With such a nuanced and seemingly subtle distinction, the misunderstanding is understandable.
As a fan of the video games franchise by the same name and having played and beaten all of them. I love seeing more information and learning about Yakuza.
I just started playing Yakuza Like A Dragon (Wanted to play the franchise for years and Finally took the plunge). I soo wanna go back and play em all already. But it's interesting how accurate the skeletal structure of the games are to the Yakuza
The CIA seems/seemed to stick their nose in everything. Could you do a video on the CIA please? Not into the Yakuza but interesting nevertheless. Always great videos.
When my Father was stationed in Okinawa I made friends with someone named Heijie. I stopped other kids from beating him by picking up a a large stick, and beating them up. A few days later some old Japanese guy showed up to our home, and gave them a large briefcase full of Yen. A week later Heijie took me to an Onsen. I was then met by his Grand Father who thanked me for protecting his Grand son. He said to me, "You are Family.". This old man was covered in tattoos. I had no idea he was a high member of the local Yakuza.
@@neuron517 sorry I had to run this through a translation program. I was never able to learn how to speak or write Japanese as we were there for only 3 months, but I'm grateful for your comment.
was just about to make the same comment. 'Ido' or 'eedo' means a 'well' in Japanese. Anglicizing other languages often creates lots of misunderstandings.
He is one of my favorite narrators and though not japenese myself, my step father was may he rest in peace and the children and now grandchildren have been raised the japenese traditions and language, originally from Tokyo japan with the family linked back to the kodokan where this past summer Olympics had taken place for the second time in Olympic history, our family is greatly thankful for the country itself and I thank all for becoming allies of the American forces after their defeat of the Japanese troops and emperor after world war two taken place. I know being American raised in a japenese home, we are looked down upon even his grandchildren for speaking the japenese language at certain food establishments. Over the pandemic more so than world war two. Oddly I retired from the American airforce later coming back after injuries last year but getting better fast and would like to go fight in the Ukraine after medical clearance in a few months, untill I receive medical clearance, I can not go unfortunately.
You forgot the most insane part of Kodama's legacy: a Yakuza-affiliated pornstar named Mitsuyasu Maeno flew a plane into his house while he was still inside, and Kodama survived uninjured. Absolutely insane
Lived in Japan until September. Bruh, the current Yakuza are hilarious. Until 2020, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi gave out free candy to children on Halloween at their headquarters, because a couple decades ago, international students tried to trick or treat, and the gangsters got confused and tried to pay them with cash until the students explained what was up 😂 The Kobe city government made it illegal, and a ton of residents complained because these scary gangsters were making the kids happy. I also remember their "civil war". I was expecting shoot outs, mass stabbings, tons of bodies discovered and general chaos and terror. Instead, radio silence for nearly a year and then someone shot a gun once or twice into an empty car and that made the Japanese 24hr news cycle. It was just bizarre.
Yakuza, in the 70s and 80s, before the Asian market bubble exploded, were more violent than now, to the point of, sometimes, US mafia being the most friendly to their members, in comparison
I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness and in our Korean congregation, there was a Japanese-korean family that suspectedly had former ties with yakuza. The actual member of the congregation was an old grandma, but her grandsons had distinct tattoos (who also attended from time to time). I just remember seeing them whenever we went to their house to pick up a sofa. I’ll never forget those tattoos I saw on the grandsons back. It covered everything and looked like it hurt. But was nonetheless beautiful artwork. I also remember the grandma always wearing long sleeved gowns because I think she had a koi fish tattoo near her shoulder too.
Tattoos definitely don't always mean Yakuza here, but this situation with multiple family members inked might point to some association. I'm in some irezumi (Japanese tattoo) groups here in Japan, and though there are likely some members in there, the majority are just art/tattoo fans. Lots of you hip couples getting big pieces and body suits together over the last couple decades. It's pretty awesome how it's becoming more accepted now (very slowly, but steadily). Just hope I can use gyms and pools sooner than later :P
@Steady Gemini just cover it up, or book private onsens. and the Japanese usually don't make too much noise about gaijins if they know you are a tourist.
tattoos usually are less painfull the more fat you have. places like the rib and forearms hurt pretty good. an i don't know if he was picked traditionally or with a gun.
Love the slightly cynical and humorous narrations but too brief. The history of the yakuza is both very bloody and very interesting. While they had and continue to commit many crimes/atrocities, one shouldn't miss out on pointing out the fact that they are usually the "First Responders" to many, if not all, major disasters that affect their territory/country. In times of crisis, such as the last major tsunamis, earthquakes, and even the fukushima disaster (though controversy surrounds some of the immediate relief efforts), they were among the first, if not the first to enter dangerous zones even when the governments and aid relief wouldn't due to hazards; to help get food, water, blankets and shelter for those affected within the area. They either went in themselves (lower ranked, some mid ranked members to demonstrate their honour and leadership) and/or employed the "homeless" or debt owing to do so in exchange for their debts to be wiped. Even among the so called "Fukushima 50", at least a handful were sent by the yakuza going in blindly to ensure the stability and safety above all else. Not saying that they should be memorialized or put on a pedestal for these acts, but not all of them are honourless greedy mobsters, and ma y still abide by the old ways and care for their community. Keep up the awesome videos!
Best channel to drive to, work to, chill to. It's all good always. Also this narrator is my favorite he's got some funny lines everytime. Can you do Ms 13?
The history of Yakuza traces back thousands of years back to the biblical Noah and his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth. Japheth-Nese "Japanese" is the ancestor of the people of Japan and the son of Noah. Gomer son of Japheth had a son named Ashkenaz and he was known by the short name Ashkuz. Gomer had a brother named Meshech also called Mosoch later called King Mosokh. Mosoch had a son named Ya and a daughter named Vuza and the Yauza River is named for them. King Mosokh built a city named after him and his wife, Kva and he called the city Moskva which was later known as the city of Moscow and Moscow is Moskva in Russian and it is situated in the middle of the Russian country which was known as Muscovy in the past. Ya + kuz + letter "a" from Vuza we get Yakuza which even sounds similar to Yavuza Samurai is pronounced ˈsaməˌrī and is a spelling variation of the name Samiarus the nickname of Shemhazai the husband of Inanna "Ishtar" where we get Semiramis the name for the daughter of Mizraim (Egypt) the son of Ham. Ashkenaz was the son of Gomer and Go-yong "TǔTán" the daughter of King Dula and there is an Asian medical center named Dula and the word Doula is a person who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor and the word Doula comes from Greek doulē and the ancient Greeks descend from Javan the son of Japheth. Gomer was known as Go-Men by the ancient Chinese, and we see his name in gomennasai "i am sorry" even though it's associated with a formal apology in Japan it is similar to the name Imsety as in "I am Seti" and Set was the brother of Osiris and Nabu TuTu (Mount Nebo in Jordan is named for him) Gaia another wife of Noah also called Thaitea as in tea which originates in ancient China and Gai was known as "Ge" and combine her name with the granddaughter of Noah called Ashia "Asia" we get the name Geisha the ancient tradition that began in China founded by Chín Tutan "Tchin" a great grandson of Gomer but was later adopted by the descendants of Japheth-Nese "Japanese" the ancestor of the people of Japan. According to ancient Hopi legends Maasaw "Masaw" was the name of a Hopi guardian who guided the Hopi across a large ocean, after a great flood that covered the Earth (probably meaning that the floodwaters impacted the whole planet and nearly wiped-out mankind) he gave the Hopi a small stone tablet that they needed for permission to occupy the new land. Massawa is also the name of a city located in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea that was once part of the kingdom of Axum founded by Ityopp'is founder of ʾĪtyōṗṗyā (Ethiopia) the son of Cush and grandson of Ham. Hapi was the son of Horus, and he founded the Hapiru tribe of Babylon and later his descendants founded the Hopi tribe to honor his memory. The brothers of Hapi (Hopi) are Imsety whose descendants later called themselves the Métis tribe and King Duamutef some of his descendants later called themselves the Duwamish tribe and they are part of the Abenaki people who get their name from Nabu "Tutu" brother of Osiris and uncle of Horus the father of Hapi (Hopi) and Hopi Anu-naki, means “ant friends,” and the name Nibiru is a spelling variation of the name Nabu their earthly city was called Nippur and was the home of Enlil the son of Noah and another brother of Hapi was called Qebehsenuef and he married Kebechet the daughter of Anubis and where the name of Quebec derives from. Ra is short for Raamah the son of Cush and grandson of Ham where we get the name Ramen which means the descendants of Raamah and Min "Lord of the Eastern desert" the brother of Horus and Anubis. Ham was called Lohan by the ancient Chinese and notice the connection to "lowest hand" in a card game and Hind founder of the Hindús was the son of Ham and where the word "hand" derives from and the connection to the legend of the 18 Arhats or Luohan and in Bengali it's referred to as ôrhôt and the Bengalese descend from Benga also called Bangla the ancestor of the Bangladeshi people and the son of Bong (founder of the Bhang tradition in India) and grandson of Hind the son of Ham.
You failed to mention that Japan finally made it illegal to be a member in 2011 . Before that they actually had club houses that said Yama Guchi Gumi base of operations . Now they are shunned and have been driven underground in some areas hence the restructuring .
For those who are curious, Jake Adelstein wrote a very interesting book about the dark parts of Japanese society. He was interviewed on the daily show about it when it came out and it's a good read!
Whoa 🤯 … finally a channel that brings the real history & the context of the subject. On the CIA ties & the CIA connection to the LDP you are completely spot on. You guys have done your homework. But you need to work on your pronunciation a bit. Congratulations on an excellent post.
I have a house in Kobe and from time to time, I would hear about "issues" and I knew there was a Yakuza group, but I had *NO* idea it was this. Kobe is still nice and I've never had a problem. Can't wait to get back to my second home. JAPAN! OPEN DAMN IT!
Good vid...thanks for posting👍 * the mention of the pinky cutting...they stoped that practice because it was effecting their golf swing so they cut off a toe * Jake Adelstein wrote a book called Tokyo Vice-excellent read about personal accounts w the Yakuza
fascinating story about this subculture. I have seen a lot of the movies such as Outrage, and Beyond Outrage, stuff like that. This was very informative. Thanks for the great video and historical content.
Just wanted to mention that, while hanafuda is a card game, it doesn't use a normal deck of cards like depicted here. Hanafuda decks are very beautiful and steeped with cultural meaning.
Russian criminal underworld would ne nice... Eastern promises was one of my favorite movies and Vito morgenssen did a great role in it about Russian gangsters
He nails all the pronunciation for the most part but sake becomes saki. I have a friend named Sugi Saki, but yeah it’s pretty wild when you consider here the most violent crimes are committed by men who are technically senior citizens. I was in Hyogo a few years back and saw some crazy shit.
Right about the members are declining since Boutaihou (anti-yakuza policy that cracking down yakuza members and it’s associates) was implemented by national police and officials. Younger generations today are not interested in joining old style yakuza but they are creating their own groups so called “hangure”, which are more decentralized and hard to be detected by police or in public.
Don’t forget the Pride days of mma which they had connections to the yakuza. After getting investigated and exposed, pride fell apart. Some fighters even threw fights.
@@imaXkillXya Ah... Pride. I miss the old days. It's unfortunate what happened to them. Hopefully Rizin can grow big like Pride in their old glory days.
One thing that make them better than Irish and Italian mob : Money Laundry. And where they clean the money with quick returns? Entertainment business ofcourse! Yeah, that's mean some of your vidya game and animu probably has ties with Yakuza.
Awesome video! Huge fan here! Frist time commenting, I've been subscribed since the Gouverneur Morris vid, could you make one about the Italian Mafia? how it started and got spreaded to the world?
About thirty years ago, there was a big news story going around. It was reported that a Japanese Insurance company had purchased an original Van Gogh for two hundred million dollars, and placed it on display at their corporate office in Tokyo. Is it still there?
You should make a vidoe about Che Guevara. I took a trip to Ecuador 🇪🇨 and learned a little about him. I feel like your the perfect RUclips channel to talk about it
Ernesto "Che" Guevara (14 June 1928 - 9 October 1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.
I'd like to see a video about tomb raiders and treasure hunters in ancient Egypt. Did the pyramids have guards? For how long until it was easy to go in there and take what you want?
"This toe tapping jam" U gotta love ur sense of humour mate. I'm surprised that these blokes didn't work at day care centres or coach junior sport on the wknds 🤣
Hanafuda is not the game, it's the type of card that being use for gambling. The number 893 came from a game called Oicho Kabu, where you hit your card until it reach 9, the highest point, but if your hand exceed 9, it's the last digit of your hand that counts. Much like baccarat rather than blackjack. A 893 is the worst hand a player could get in Oicho Kabu because you can't hit anymore and your hand equals 20, but remember, the last digit that count. So you have 0, thus the translation of "good for nothing".
I spent a little time in Japan. Mafia is everywhere if you what you are looking for. Especially in bars and red light districts of Tokyo. It's not dangerous if you are there spending money but my curiosity did take me down some dark aisles and I was stopped and politely told never to come this way again usually by enormous men.
You almost made this cold calculating murderous bunch of racketeers seem like a wholesome community group. Well done. Maybe now you could make a video focussing on the horrific crimes they have carried out over the centuries.
I’ve gone out drinking with quite a few yakuza in my younger club going days. Nice guys. They tend to like me since I don’t look Japanese but can talk to them.
I was a missionary in Tokyo for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years and had a run-in with a Yakuza member. He was super nice! My coworker and I were playing ping pong at the church on our day off, and suddenly there was just a… dude in the pews watching us. We keep the church locked. No idea how he got in. We asked if he wanted to play ping pong with us and he said no. He asked us if a certain missionary still lived here, but that particular missionary had gone home two years earlier. He was sad that the missionary he knew wasn’t there anymore, so he took us to McDonalds and got us a bunch of food, then left. Pretty wild experience tbh.
When squinting at the visor and face along with the metal piece attached to the helmet near the chin, Darth Vader’s specific goggles/face mask shape can be visible
The Camorra is an Italian Mafia-type criminal organization and criminal society originating in the region of Campania. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 17th century. Unlike the pyramidal structure of the Sicilian Mafia, the Camorra's organizational structure is divided into individual groups, also called "clans". Every capo or "boss" is the head of a clan, in which there may be tens or hundreds of affiliates, depending on the clan's power and structure. Consequently, as Camorra clans act independently, they are more prone to feuding among themselves. The Camorra's main businesses are drug trafficking, racketeering, counterfeiting and money laundering. It is also not unusual for Camorra clans to infiltrate the politics of their respective areas.
In Japanese swordsmanship, or Kendo, Iaido, the little finger's grip is the tightest on the hilt. A little finger-amputee was therefore unable to grip his sword properly, weakening him in battle and making him more dependent on the protection of his boss.
I was about to mention the same thing. Do you study? My style is Nishio Ryu Aikido which has an Iaido form called Aikido Toho Iai.
I'm sure you can grip and swing a sword perfectly fine without your pinky.
@@rubiconnn For sure you know nothing about japanese swordsmanship.
@@mestreg5687 Tradition and honor don't mean squat in real life. Japan's traditional swordsmanship is probably why they lagged way behind Europe in warfare technology.
@@rubiconnn You need to go back to school and learn text interpretation. Did you read the comment you are commenting on? The first?
A video on the gangs of ancient Rome wouldbe awesome. Not many know this, but there was a very strong organised crime presence in Rome throughout most of its history.
@Tom Fox Crips
@Tom Fox
Romeo and Juliet
The government
Organized crime in Italy? Who would’ve thought.
@Tom Fox the Vatican
There's a brilliant five-part film series called Battles Without Honor and Humanity (The Yakuza Papers) that came out in the mid-70s that's based on the journals of a Yakuza member. It starts after the WW2 surrender and gives a realistic, insightful look at the organization in Hiroshima as it grows throughout the years from the point of view of the foot soldiers. It's widely considered to be the most accurate cinematic depiction of that lifestyle during what was known as the Hiroshima Strife and makes no attempt at portraying it as glamorous or romantic. The series was helmed by director Kenji Fukasaku and is a high-point in an amazing career which sadly ended with his swan song Battle Royale.
Going to check that out!
@@Parialated Make sure you watch the original series! There was a reboot that was so-so at best, though it's theme song has becone really popular thanks to it being used on the Kill Bill soundtrack.
Thanks for the info.
Likewise, will check on it. Hopefully that film-docu is available somewhere here online. :)
No one is scared of Asian gangsters. Their genes are weak
Ive seen it. It was pretty bad me and my friends all just turned it off and decided we would rather go to the dentist than watch another minute of that show
I've lived in Japan for 20 years. Luckily I've not had a direct run in with the Yakuza. But I have met those who have.
One businessman had his office next door to a yakuza office. One year he was getting his parking lot repaved. Someone from next door came over and request they repave their lot as well, free of charge.
The yakuza runs a lot of gamling and prostitution rings. In Nagoya they were very blatant trying to recruit women outside of the main subway station.
I had a Filipino friend who worked in a casino. They were found out and all arrested. She was let go after a few days, but their boss was convicted. She said that his wife still got paid his salary while he was in prison.
When the story about the Panama Papers came out, the biggest customer was the yakuza which had invested overseas $9 Billion USD according to the report.
In a situation like the paving one, I'd have told them I'd do it cheap, and not for cash. Maybe some beer or a party to take place for myself and the workers. Ask too much, they'd take it as an insult, don't stand up at all, then they see you as weak.
@@LegendStormcrow Don't think you understand. The Yakuza had an office next to my friend's father-in-law. The father-in-law was having the parking lot of his business repaved. The Yakuza came over and told him to pay for repaving their parking lot also. The father-in-law doesn't own the repaving company, but he had to pay the company double to pave the Yakuza's parking lot also.
@@rabbit251 No, I understand. You can't let them run over you, but you can't give them anything close to a fair deal because they'll take insult. Heck, just telling them to run off anyone that becomes a problem for you over the next year would be enough, even if you never call on it. I know they're criminals and dangerous. I've dealt with their kind before.
You give them a deal that still has them in the black by a long shot, but not for free, or they see you as an easy mark.
@@LegendStormcrow Yeah, ok. You defy the Yakuza in their own backyard. 😏
I worked as a chef in a kitchen in Hawaii run by a Japanese chef. There was always something weird about the place. Then I put it together when I noticed this 'guy' with one eye and always in a suit who came around every few weeks to 'check in' on the place. NOBODY would discuss who this guy was. Yeah... got it.
Another reason why their tattoos were hidden behind their clothes was; tattooing back then was associated with criminals.
Still is.
He said that, did you miss that part? Or comment before watching the video?
I have a native friend in Japan that claims the Yakuza is also active in their politics. They won't legalize cannabis because the Yakuza does not want to legalize it. Theres pictures of political figures in big cannabis farms of the Yakuza's.
I have been WAITING for a Yakuza video from you; thanks a million.
Also, PLEASE make a video about the Nazi submarine attacking North Carolina in WWII.
Sure man, write a whole Christmas wish list while you’re at it
No one is scared of Asian gangsters. Their genes are weak
“The only lives that truly matter are those who respect the lives of others”.
And black lives
@@marvj8255 Assigning color to race is horribly racist. Hispanics and Asians understand this and as a result don’t like being called brown and yellow.
@@marvj8255 There is only the human race. Suggesting anything else is racist.
What about Kendrick Lamar? Does he not matter? Open your eyes
@@marvj8255 Who?
I love these videos. The narrator is funny and smart. The content is very interesting to me. God bless you all
I got jacuzzi and yakuza confused...
Now I’m in hot water with the Japanese Mafia. 😣😣
I see what you did there. Well played, well played my friend. Hope you have a great day.🙌
👏
Haha0
Are you Puerto Rican? I am. We would say it just like that, interchangeable. Vanilla and Banilla.
That was cool
Like 15 years ago I found the book In The Miso Soup, in a books a million. Crazy read, definitely worth it. This video gave me context to a section of that book that I didn't totally understand at that time. It's a brutal story, highly recommend.
I was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan for 2 years and they weren’t kidding about the tattoos being frowned upon. I had a tattoo done at a parlor where they didn’t advertise because they didn’t want to attract Yakuza members for them to come & get their tattoos done there. And if we went to spas they didn’t like our tattoos being visible because of this.
Love, love, love your channel! The narrators voice is one of the best I've heard. Anyway, would you do a video on Mormons, how they own half of Vegas, the crimes they get away with in Utah, and so on. Thanks!
Did not know. That would be interesting.
Went to look it up - and he actually has a video about exactly that ruclips.net/video/Luvy-FzehUk/видео.html&ab_channel=WeirdHistory cheers!
@@fredrikhallstrom8639 That only discusses Vegas, but good try
Their Magic Mormon Underwear protects them from accusations of wrongdoing, so that video cannot be made. This is an official proclamation made by the Elohim. Nothing, not even an alcoholic con artist pedophile, can change that.
I'd like to see one on the Chinese counterpart to the Yakuza, the Triads.
Omg yes!! That would be really interesting
I don't think they're comparable.
Yeah, triads are pretty cut and dry gangsters. May as well watch a documentary on the bloods and crips
Triads? You mean the people doing shit the police allow them to do?
Spent a week in Sasebo. On one particular night out, my cronies and I met a couple of said gentlemen. Extremely polite, well mannered, soft spoken, and generous. Great conversation and class summed up the evening. Needless to say our meals and drinks were covered. Great guys.
1:08 Ya and Za are the original Japanese names for 8 and 3. However, Ku is the Chinese name for 9. The Japanese adopted the Chinese numerical system for common use and only use their own in very traditional or formal settings. With such a nuanced and seemingly subtle distinction, the misunderstanding is understandable.
I was unaware of their almost corporate culture and concerns with branding. Very interesting.
Lol the higher ups are basically just a bunch of hedge fund managers now. Theyve always been all about money
Hell's Angels in Canada do similar things.
As a fan of the video games franchise by the same name and having played and beaten all of them. I love seeing more information and learning about Yakuza.
I just started playing Yakuza Like A Dragon (Wanted to play the franchise for years and Finally took the plunge). I soo wanna go back and play em all already. But it's interesting how accurate the skeletal structure of the games are to the Yakuza
@@OGM_OriginalGameMusic Only in the videogames most of them are in better shape and don’t wear diapers
The CIA seems/seemed to stick their nose in everything. Could you do a video on the CIA please? Not into the Yakuza but interesting nevertheless. Always great videos.
The CIA is one of the dirties gov out there
Oooo that would be good. What are some of the strangest things the CIA have funded?
@@notfiction9241 Wouldn't be surprised if they are involved in Russia/Ukraine conflict.
@@chanelfitzgerald I kinda hope they are, it seems the only way the west can help Ukraine is covertly.
@@notfiction9241 Hm... how about when they spread genital diseases to Black American ghetto.
When my Father was stationed in Okinawa I made friends with someone named Heijie. I stopped other kids from beating him by picking up a a large stick, and beating them up. A few days later some old Japanese guy showed up to our home, and gave them a large briefcase full of Yen. A week later Heijie took me to an Onsen. I was then met by his Grand Father who thanked me for protecting his Grand son. He said to me, "You are Family.". This old man was covered in tattoos. I had no idea he was a high member of the local Yakuza.
沖縄のヤクザは成り立ちから本土のヤクザとは異なりだいぶ異質
@@neuron517 sorry I had to run this through a translation program. I was never able to learn how to speak or write Japanese as we were there for only 3 months, but I'm grateful for your comment.
Just a note: Edo is pronounced eh-doh , Kobe is ko-beh, and sake ( sa-keh).
The e in Japanese is pronounced “eh”.
was just about to make the same comment. 'Ido' or 'eedo' means a 'well' in Japanese. Anglicizing other languages often creates lots of misunderstandings.
I prefer the "Kill Bill" pronunciation.
@@iga279 Japanese also has gairaigo and calls sunglasses “sangurasu”….it happens in any language.
These videos are so interesting. How do y’all make sure the information on your videos are accurate? Always so fun to watch your videos.
That's an important question
@@maryhildreth754 yea I wish I knew wish sources I could trust lol
He is one of my favorite narrators and though not japenese myself, my step father was may he rest in peace and the children and now grandchildren have been raised the japenese traditions and language, originally from Tokyo japan with the family linked back to the kodokan where this past summer Olympics had taken place for the second time in Olympic history, our family is greatly thankful for the country itself and I thank all for becoming allies of the American forces after their defeat of the Japanese troops and emperor after world war two taken place. I know being American raised in a japenese home, we are looked down upon even his grandchildren for speaking the japenese language at certain food establishments. Over the pandemic more so than world war two. Oddly I retired from the American airforce later coming back after injuries last year but getting better fast and would like to go fight in the Ukraine after medical clearance in a few months, untill I receive medical clearance, I can not go unfortunately.
@@krokodilpil8335 r/im14andthisisdeep
The only way you know anything 100% is seeing it yourself, otherwise it's heresay and requires you to believe someone who is telling you the "truth".
You forgot the most insane part of Kodama's legacy: a Yakuza-affiliated pornstar named Mitsuyasu Maeno flew a plane into his house while he was still inside, and Kodama survived uninjured. Absolutely insane
bro what the fuckk💀💀💀
@@user-he5ic6nq8o Ye man, you genuinely cannot exaggerate Japanese modern history, it's fucken wild
Doing one on the Russian mob would be pretty timely right about now
Or the Ukrainian mafia
@@sakabula1285 deff
Probably one of your coolest episodes. Thanks!
Make a video about the 5 Mafia Families of NYC
Why don't you make a video about the 5 mafia families of NYC ??
We've been beaten to death with movies and songs about those people.
@@Ricky_Spanishh agreed
@@Ricky_Spanishh 🤣 I hear that
I could listen to u ALL day!!! Thanks for great content!
Speaking of Japanese people, can you do one on sumo wrestling? Love your content!
Lived in Japan until September. Bruh, the current Yakuza are hilarious. Until 2020, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi gave out free candy to children on Halloween at their headquarters, because a couple decades ago, international students tried to trick or treat, and the gangsters got confused and tried to pay them with cash until the students explained what was up 😂 The Kobe city government made it illegal, and a ton of residents complained because these scary gangsters were making the kids happy.
I also remember their "civil war". I was expecting shoot outs, mass stabbings, tons of bodies discovered and general chaos and terror. Instead, radio silence for nearly a year and then someone shot a gun once or twice into an empty car and that made the Japanese 24hr news cycle. It was just bizarre.
huh. neat
Ever heard of “Gokusen”?
@@plawson8577 What a throwback! Yeah, I read the manga back in middle school.
Yakuza, in the 70s and 80s, before the Asian market bubble exploded, were more violent than now, to the point of, sometimes, US mafia being the most friendly to their members, in comparison
I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness and in our Korean congregation, there was a Japanese-korean family that suspectedly had former ties with yakuza. The actual member of the congregation was an old grandma, but her grandsons had distinct tattoos (who also attended from time to time). I just remember seeing them whenever we went to their house to pick up a sofa. I’ll never forget those tattoos I saw on the grandsons back. It covered everything and looked like it hurt. But was nonetheless beautiful artwork. I also remember the grandma always wearing long sleeved gowns because I think she had a koi fish tattoo near her shoulder too.
Tattoos definitely don't always mean Yakuza here, but this situation with multiple family members inked might point to some association. I'm in some irezumi (Japanese tattoo) groups here in Japan, and though there are likely some members in there, the majority are just art/tattoo fans. Lots of you hip couples getting big pieces and body suits together over the last couple decades. It's pretty awesome how it's becoming more accepted now (very slowly, but steadily). Just hope I can use gyms and pools sooner than later :P
@Steady Gemini just cover it up, or book private onsens. and the Japanese usually don't make too much noise about gaijins if they know you are a tourist.
Asian girls with tattoos are hawt!!!
tattoos usually are less painfull the more fat you have. places like the rib and forearms hurt pretty good. an i don't know if he was picked traditionally or with a gun.
Very informative as always!
Love the slightly cynical and humorous narrations but too brief. The history of the yakuza is both very bloody and very interesting. While they had and continue to commit many crimes/atrocities, one shouldn't miss out on pointing out the fact that they are usually the "First Responders" to many, if not all, major disasters that affect their territory/country.
In times of crisis, such as the last major tsunamis, earthquakes, and even the fukushima disaster (though controversy surrounds some of the immediate relief efforts), they were among the first, if not the first to enter dangerous zones even when the governments and aid relief wouldn't due to hazards; to help get food, water, blankets and shelter for those affected within the area. They either went in themselves (lower ranked, some mid ranked members to demonstrate their honour and leadership) and/or employed the "homeless" or debt owing to do so in exchange for their debts to be wiped. Even among the so called "Fukushima 50", at least a handful were sent by the yakuza going in blindly to ensure the stability and safety above all else.
Not saying that they should be memorialized or put on a pedestal for these acts, but not all of them are honourless greedy mobsters, and ma y still abide by the old ways and care for their community.
Keep up the awesome videos!
Best channel to drive to, work to, chill to. It's all good always. Also this narrator is my favorite he's got some funny lines everytime.
Can you do Ms 13?
2:00 Nice Sekiro statue! One of the hardest games I’ve ever played
The history of Yakuza traces back thousands of years back to the biblical Noah and his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Japheth-Nese "Japanese" is the ancestor of the people of Japan and the son of Noah.
Gomer son of Japheth had a son named Ashkenaz and he was known by the short name Ashkuz.
Gomer had a brother named Meshech also called Mosoch later called King Mosokh.
Mosoch had a son named Ya and a daughter named Vuza and the Yauza River is named for them.
King Mosokh built a city named after him and his wife, Kva and he called the city Moskva which was later known as the city of Moscow and Moscow is Moskva in Russian and it is situated in the middle of the Russian country which was known as Muscovy in the past.
Ya + kuz + letter "a" from Vuza we get Yakuza which even sounds similar to Yavuza
Samurai is pronounced ˈsaməˌrī and is a spelling variation of the name Samiarus the nickname of Shemhazai the husband of Inanna "Ishtar" where we get Semiramis the name for the daughter of Mizraim (Egypt) the son of Ham.
Ashkenaz was the son of Gomer and Go-yong "TǔTán" the daughter of King Dula and there is an Asian medical center named Dula and the word Doula is a person who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor and the word Doula comes from Greek doulē and the ancient Greeks descend from Javan the son of Japheth.
Gomer was known as Go-Men by the ancient Chinese, and we see his name in gomennasai "i am sorry" even though it's associated with a formal apology in Japan it is similar to the name Imsety as in "I am Seti" and Set was the brother of Osiris and Nabu TuTu (Mount Nebo in Jordan is named for him)
Gaia another wife of Noah also called Thaitea as in tea which originates in ancient China and Gai was known as "Ge" and combine her name with the granddaughter of Noah called Ashia "Asia" we get the name Geisha the ancient tradition that began in China founded by Chín Tutan "Tchin" a great grandson of Gomer but was later adopted by the descendants of Japheth-Nese "Japanese" the ancestor of the people of Japan.
According to ancient Hopi legends Maasaw "Masaw" was the name of a Hopi guardian who guided the Hopi across a large ocean, after a great flood that covered the Earth (probably meaning that the floodwaters impacted the whole planet and nearly wiped-out mankind) he gave the Hopi a small stone tablet that they needed for permission to occupy the new land.
Massawa is also the name of a city located in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea that was once part of the kingdom of Axum founded by Ityopp'is founder of ʾĪtyōṗṗyā (Ethiopia) the son of Cush and grandson of Ham.
Hapi was the son of Horus, and he founded the Hapiru tribe of Babylon and later his descendants founded the Hopi tribe to honor his memory.
The brothers of Hapi (Hopi) are Imsety whose descendants later called themselves the Métis tribe and King Duamutef some of his descendants later called themselves the Duwamish tribe and they are part of the Abenaki people who get their name from Nabu "Tutu" brother of Osiris and uncle of Horus the father of Hapi (Hopi) and Hopi Anu-naki, means “ant friends,” and the name Nibiru is a spelling variation of the name Nabu their earthly city was called Nippur and was the home of Enlil the son of Noah and another brother of Hapi was called Qebehsenuef and he married Kebechet the daughter of Anubis and where the name of Quebec derives from.
Ra is short for Raamah the son of Cush and grandson of Ham where we get the name Ramen which means the descendants of Raamah and Min "Lord of the Eastern desert" the brother of Horus and Anubis.
Ham was called Lohan by the ancient Chinese and notice the connection to "lowest hand" in a card game and Hind founder of the Hindús was the son of Ham and where the word "hand" derives from and the connection to the legend of the 18 Arhats or Luohan and in Bengali it's referred to as ôrhôt and the Bengalese descend from Benga also called Bangla the ancestor of the Bangladeshi people and the son of Bong (founder of the Bhang tradition in India) and grandson of Hind the son of Ham.
The Yamaguchi Gumi are the most powerful yakuza clan stone cold killers but have impeccable manners
Oh, so they kill their foes with their intact pinkies raised?!
@@JohnnyAngel8 yup. Exactly. And?
@@haryredneck And what? It's a quip.
The Yamauchi Family(Nintendo) have had ties to the Kogawa Clan since 1893.
But what about tamagotchi?
the Ned Kelly Gang and the Iron Man suit!
You failed to mention that Japan finally made it illegal to be a member in 2011 . Before that they actually had club houses that said Yama Guchi Gumi base of operations . Now they are shunned and have been driven underground in some areas hence the restructuring .
For those who are curious, Jake Adelstein wrote a very interesting book about the dark parts of Japanese society. He was interviewed on the daily show about it when it came out and it's a good read!
stein
So basically, no one saw the interview.
Whoa 🤯 … finally a channel that brings the real history & the context of the subject.
On the CIA ties & the CIA connection to the LDP you are completely spot on. You guys have done your homework. But you need to work on your pronunciation a bit.
Congratulations on an excellent post.
I've been waiting for this for a while!
It's a toe tapping entertaining and informative narration! 🏆
Thanks!👍
🖖🐾
A+ video!
Fascinating history on a unique organization!
Love anything that has to do with japan 🇯🇵 you should look into what religion and mythology was like for feudal Japan
I have a house in Kobe and from time to time, I would hear about "issues" and I knew there was a Yakuza group, but I had *NO* idea it was this. Kobe is still nice and I've never had a problem. Can't wait to get back to my second home. JAPAN! OPEN DAMN IT!
I have live in both kabulichou and Asakusa surrounded by Yakuza and never had any issues with them
You should do a video of criminal organizations fighting each other like a international mob war or something like that
I love that you took time out of this video about Japanese organized crime to dunk on Kirk Cameron.
Good vid...thanks for posting👍
* the mention of the pinky cutting...they stoped that practice because it was effecting their golf swing so they cut off a toe
* Jake Adelstein wrote a book called Tokyo Vice-excellent read about personal accounts w the Yakuza
Good practicality there.
Interesting vid, Hollywood never did enough justice in its depiction of the Yakuza.
Please make a video about the laughing pandemic in Tanzania!
I mean without romanticism, most of they did was investment and business. Kinda boring for Hollywood taste perhaps hahaha.
This channel is so interesting.
Aww. Well that’s nice that they’re allowing businesses a chance to get back on their feet before breaking their limbs.
Perfect timing. I'm playing the Yakuza games for the first time!
You should do about them “salva trucha” gangs!
fascinating story about this subculture. I have seen a lot of the movies such as Outrage, and Beyond Outrage, stuff like that. This was very informative. Thanks for the great video and historical content.
Just wanted to mention that, while hanafuda is a card game, it doesn't use a normal deck of cards like depicted here. Hanafuda decks are very beautiful and steeped with cultural meaning.
Thank you for this video ! 😊🌹
I love my history and this channel is my domain new follow it’s so interesting what you do! Keep up the good work
The effect COVID had on Yakuza/businesses and the hold on protection dues was a cool insight
"Kirk Cameron fan club"!! Hahaha! There's a reason I enjoy this guy's narration so much!!
So very interesting. Enjoyed the humour, too.
Russian criminal underworld would ne nice... Eastern promises was one of my favorite movies and Vito morgenssen did a great role in it about Russian gangsters
Especially with the war in Ukraine all these Russian oligarchs(gangsters in suits) are having there assets frozen all around the world
Fuck Russia, give them nothing
Loved that movie. Will rewatch it this weekend.
Black Lagoon.
Vigo Mortensen
I like Weird History because of his for the most part on point pronunciations.
I would love to see a weird history video about the "Theives In Law."
A very interesting organized crime culture.
Wasn’t yubitsume to make it harder to wield a sword, making you less of a warrior?
This channel is always great, making history fun. The use of CE vs AD is pretty lame though.
Could you please do a video on the triad gangs of China?
He nails all the pronunciation for the most part but sake becomes saki. I have a friend named Sugi Saki, but yeah it’s pretty wild when you consider here the most violent crimes are committed by men who are technically senior citizens. I was in Hyogo a few years back and saw some crazy shit.
That's actually how they pronounce it in Okinawa. Similarly, they pronounce Karate as "Karati".
ruclips.net/video/E0FXZ9No1D0/видео.html
And now I want to play the games again...
Same, 0 was the best
@@theunbeatable6598 *24 hour Cinderella intensifies*
@@mercenarygundam1487 Fact that majima knew the lyrics by heart makes it even better
@@theunbeatable6598 have to agree
Zero was amazing.
That old lady in the leapord sweater was the best hostess
For the first step, I have chosen a plastic bread bag, the ones used for a loaf of bread.
Right about the members are declining since Boutaihou (anti-yakuza policy that cracking down yakuza members and it’s associates) was implemented by national police and officials. Younger generations today are not interested in joining old style yakuza but they are creating their own groups so called “hangure”, which are more decentralized and hard to be detected by police or in public.
Thanks for this! 🗾
Sounds like they have some serious beef in Kobe.
Wow, this is so interesting!
Nowadays they're more like financial firms, i'm not kidding LOL. But their influence in entertainment business is not a joke.
Don’t forget the Pride days of mma which they had connections to the yakuza. After getting investigated and exposed, pride fell apart. Some fighters even threw fights.
@@imaXkillXya Ah... Pride. I miss the old days. It's unfortunate what happened to them. Hopefully Rizin can grow big like Pride in their old glory days.
Nintendo and SEGA have Yakuza ties.
@@plawson8577 Any entertainment business has connection with them. Both directly and undirectly.
One thing that make them better than Irish and Italian mob : Money Laundry. And where they clean the money with quick returns? Entertainment business ofcourse! Yeah, that's mean some of your vidya game and animu probably has ties with Yakuza.
Awesome video! Huge fan here! Frist time commenting, I've been subscribed since the Gouverneur Morris vid, could you make one about the Italian Mafia? how it started and got spreaded to the world?
About thirty years ago, there was a big news story going around. It was reported that a Japanese Insurance company had purchased an original Van Gogh for two hundred million dollars, and placed it on display at their corporate office in Tokyo.
Is it still there?
You should make a vidoe about Che Guevara. I took a trip to Ecuador 🇪🇨 and learned a little about him. I feel like your the perfect RUclips channel to talk about it
Ernesto "Che" Guevara (14 June 1928 - 9 October 1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist.
A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, his stylized visage has become a ubiquitous countercultural symbol of rebellion and global insignia in popular culture.
I'd like to see a video about tomb raiders and treasure hunters in ancient Egypt. Did the pyramids have guards? For how long until it was easy to go in there and take what you want?
"This toe tapping jam" U gotta love ur sense of humour mate. I'm surprised that these blokes didn't work at day care centres or coach junior sport on the wknds 🤣
great video.
Can you do one on the TRIADS ?
There’s a new series on Tokyo vice, HBo Max and is it honestly one of the best series of this year!!!!
There's an industry in Japan for Yakuza members to replace their missing digits.
Seen that to hide what they are
So insightful.
Will watch it again for better comprehension.
Unlike European mafias, the Yakuza is more low profile and perhaps only active in Japan.
You could do a video on the biker group Hells Angel
This is the coolest history show.
Yakuza went downhill after Kiryu left tbh
Your father was a queen so you’re a princess
@@JohnWick-vb9pc Your father was a peasant and for clapped by me
Ten years in the joint...
@@DTownNash made u a ###
im here early enough to ask, is stephen colbert the narrator, because even if its not, im pretty sure its stephen colbert. Cheers
Well this guy is funny even when he doesn't mean to be and Colbert tries to be funny and isn't
@@jamesyandsonsoutdooradvent9394 big facts.
Hanafuda is not the game, it's the type of card that being use for gambling. The number 893 came from a game called Oicho Kabu, where you hit your card until it reach 9, the highest point, but if your hand exceed 9, it's the last digit of your hand that counts. Much like baccarat rather than blackjack.
A 893 is the worst hand a player could get in Oicho Kabu because you can't hit anymore and your hand equals 20, but remember, the last digit that count. So you have 0, thus the translation of "good for nothing".
I spent a little time in Japan. Mafia is everywhere if you what you are looking for. Especially in bars and red light districts of Tokyo. It's not dangerous if you are there spending money but my curiosity did take me down some dark aisles and I was stopped and politely told never to come this way again usually by enormous men.
You almost made this cold calculating murderous bunch of racketeers seem like a wholesome community group. Well done. Maybe now you could make a video focussing on the horrific crimes they have carried out over the centuries.
2:06 Sekiro: shadows die Twice
2:11 Mr X from Resident Evil 2
I’ve gone out drinking with quite a few yakuza in my younger club going days. Nice guys. They tend to like me since I don’t look Japanese but can talk to them.
I was a missionary in Tokyo for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years and had a run-in with a Yakuza member. He was super nice! My coworker and I were playing ping pong at the church on our day off, and suddenly there was just a… dude in the pews watching us. We keep the church locked. No idea how he got in. We asked if he wanted to play ping pong with us and he said no. He asked us if a certain missionary still lived here, but that particular missionary had gone home two years earlier. He was sad that the missionary he knew wasn’t there anymore, so he took us to McDonalds and got us a bunch of food, then left.
Pretty wild experience tbh.
5:34 oh don’t worry they are just making use of the extra space😉
Make a video about the betyárs!
Another crazy facts They take karaoke super seriously as-well. 🎤
1:18 recognize Darth Vader? This armor (and the specific image) is where his look came from
When squinting at the visor and face along with the metal piece attached to the helmet near the chin, Darth Vader’s specific goggles/face mask shape can be visible
Nice
Did you already do a video on the Catholic Church?? Talk about criminals
How about the Hell's Angels, 38th Street Gang, or Camorra (pretty old)?
The Camorra is an Italian Mafia-type criminal organization and criminal society originating in the region of Campania.
It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 17th century.
Unlike the pyramidal structure of the Sicilian Mafia, the Camorra's organizational structure is divided into individual groups, also called "clans".
Every capo or "boss" is the head of a clan, in which there may be tens or hundreds of affiliates, depending on the clan's power and structure.
Consequently, as Camorra clans act independently, they are more prone to feuding among themselves.
The Camorra's main businesses are drug trafficking, racketeering, counterfeiting and money laundering.
It is also not unusual for Camorra clans to infiltrate the politics of their respective areas.