The Yakuza And The Triads

A pack of men in sharp, tailored suits and dark sunglasses strut down the street. Their eyes are shielded, but the icy scowl on their faces is a clear sign to stay out of their paths. A few of their collars hang open, showing off a glimpse of the vibrant and intricate ink work on their chests, and presumably, their entire bodies. Tattoos are the norm these days, but then one suddenly spots a man with a peculiarly pint-sized pinkie. Perhaps it is only a deformity, but upon a closer look, it appears that the entire upper half has been sliced cleanly off, almost as if it were done intentionally. Since the beginning of civilization, crime and injustice has existed. At the same time, gangs in all shapes and sizes have been around, from rebels, dissidents, and rogue soldiers to the average circle of miscreants loitering in alleys and behind convenience stores. In Japan, a gang of a different breed would arise - one underscored by honor, respect, family, and a code of ethics. They are the Yakuza. The Yakuza claim to be the Robin Hoods of the Far East. While they may lean towards the other side of the law, justice is all they truly aim for. After all, for a time, these tattoo-covered "thugs" have even been praised by the public. On the other hand, most are quick to say otherwise. Either way, the Yakuza is a nefarious network of stone-faced, theatrically tattooed families, with descendants that continue to make even the most seasoned of authorities quake in their shoes. From running guns to white-collar crimes in cyberspace and illegal seafood, the Triads, the mafia of China, are potent figures in the world of organized crime. Going by enigmatic names like the 14K Triad and the United Bamboo Gang, these criminal groups are enormous, with some organizations boosting memberships ranging in the tens of thousands. A powerful factor in China and throughout Asia, Triads are entrenched in society and the masters of multiple enterprises ranging from extortion, narcotics, prostitution and white collar crime. Despite their origins in mainland China, the Triads are most powerful in Hong Kong and Taiwan; as an international organization, the Triads have expanded into North America and other Western countries. The various Triad organizations are different but share many similarities, including a hierarchical structure, exclusive membership, common commercial money-making activities, the use of violence as a tool and the codification of rituals for the group. Although the various Triad groups share a common Chinese ethnic origin, these groups are fiercely territorial and do not collaborate together too often. The modern Triads trace their lineage to a group called the Hung Mun (Heaven and Earth Association). Originating in the Qing Dynasty as a secret society focused on Han solidarity and the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, these groups sought to overthrow the foreign Manchu Qing rulers. The Hung Mun positioned themselves as self-help organizations to disfranchised Chinese workers, providing them money loans and welfare when they were ignored by the government. From these secretive anti-Qing groups to their current existence as powerful organized crime groups, the Triads have continued to evolve and grow. Taking full advantage of technological changes, the Triads have become major players in cybercrime and the illegal seafood trade, forcing law enforcement to evolve in order to combat them. This book explores the organizations' origins and takes a look at the inner workings of the hierarchical organizations, their infamous tattoos, and the conflicting acts of terror and charity carried out by some of the most fascinating and controversial crime syndicates in the world. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Yakuza and Triads like never before.

"A fascinating study of how criminal enterprise can infect the very heart of modern capitalism. Here is the backstage world of political influence and organized crime in the world's second largest economy... by far the most detailed and even-handed study of this important and neglected subject."—John W. Dower, author of Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II Reviews of original edition: "A superb study of Japan's underworld that is both entertaining and revealing. The authors miss none of the color and curious detail of the yakuza style, but at the same time go far beyond surface observations."—Far Eastern Economic Review "The book is laden with fascinating information, some of it heretofore unavailable in English."—Washington Post "Blend the Mafia with the Masons. Let them simmer a while, then fold in the Ku Klux Klan and you'll have the yakuza…. Important and timely…Yakuza will serve for years as the source document on Japanese organized crime."—San Jose Mercury News "State-of-the-art investigative reporting…must reading for those who consider themselves already highly conversant with yakuza activities…disturbing."—Journal of Asian Studies

A pack of men in sharp, tailored suits and dark sunglasses strut down the street. Their eyes are shielded, but the icy scowl on their faces is a clear sign to stay out of their paths. A few of their collars hang open, showing off a glimpse of the vibrant and intricate ink work on their chests, and presumably, their entire bodies. Tattoos are the norm these days, but then one suddenly spots a man with a peculiarly pint-sized pinkie. Perhaps it is only a deformity, but upon a closer look, it appears that the entire upper half has been sliced cleanly off, almost as if it were done intentionally. Since the beginning of civilization, crime and injustice has existed. At the same time, gangs in all shapes and sizes have been around, from rebels, dissidents, and rogue soldiers to the average circle of miscreants loitering in alleys and behind convenience stores. In Japan, a gang of a different breed would arise - one underscored by honor, respect, family, and a code of ethics. They are the Yakuza. The Yakuza claim to be the Robin Hoods of the Far East. While they may lean towards the other side of the law, justice is all they truly aim for. After all, for a time, these tattoo-covered "thugs" have even been praised by the public. On the other hand, most are quick to say otherwise. Either way, the Yakuza is a nefarious network of stone-faced, theatrically tattooed families, with descendants that continue to make even the most seasoned of authorities quake in their shoes. From running guns to white-collar crimes in cyberspace and illegal seafood, the Triads, the mafia of China, are potent figures in the world of organized crime. Going by enigmatic names like the 14K Triad and the United Bamboo Gang, these criminal groups are enormous, with some organizations boosting memberships ranging in the tens of thousands. A powerful factor in China and throughout Asia, Triads are entrenched in society and the masters of multiple enterprises ranging from extortion, narcotics, prostitution and white collar crime. Despite their origins in mainland China, the Triads are most powerful in Hong Kong and Taiwan; as an international organization, the Triads have expanded into North America and other Western countries. The various Triad organizations are different but share many similarities, including a hierarchical structure, exclusive membership, common commercial money-making activities, the use of violence as a tool and the codification of rituals for the group. Although the various Triad groups share a common Chinese ethnic origin, these groups are fiercely territorial and do not collaborate together too often. The modern Triads trace their lineage to a group called the Hung Mun (Heaven and Earth Association). Originating in the Qing Dynasty as a secret society focused on Han solidarity and the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, these groups sought to overthrow the foreign Manchu Qing rulers. The Hung Mun positioned themselves as self-help organizations to disfranchised Chinese workers, providing them money loans and welfare when they were ignored by the government. From these secretive anti-Qing groups to their current existence as powerful organized crime groups, the Triads have continued to evolve and grow. Taking full advantage of technological changes, the Triads have become major players in cybercrime and the illegal seafood trade, forcing law enforcement to evolve in order to combat them. This book explores the organizations' origins and takes a look at the inner workings of the hierarchical organizations, their infamous tattoos, and the conflicting acts of terror and charity carried out by some of the most fascinating and controversial crime syndicates in the world. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about the Yakuza and Triads like never before.

The yakuza, Japan's traditional gangsters, are famous, especially outside Japan, where the country's criminal underworld ranks next to sushi or Godzilla when it comes to their respective fame and popularity. However, in popular media the images of the Japanese gangster vary, ranging from chivalrous Robin Hood-like characters, to violent mobsters without honor and dignity. The present volume addresses these differences, i.e. the way yakuza are presented in Japanese and Western popular media. Films and autobiographical novels, inspired by historical events or personal experiences, but also by existent and sometimes even expected stereotypes, therefore often already represent a specific image of the Japanese mafia that is more like an artificial construct than actual reality. The contributions in this book consequently intend to discuss the images of the Japanese yakuza in popular media to offer a first insight into a very important yet so far understudied topic related to the history of and existent narratives within Japan's popular culture.

Crime organizations exist in most countries around the world. In this book, readers will explore the beginnings of Russia's Red Mafia, the Triads of China, the Yakuza of Japan, and the Italian Mafia.

This book is a comparative study of organized crime groups from five different parts of the world: Europe; North America; Central America/South America/Caribbean basin; Africa; and Asia/Western Pacific. Each part contains two case studies and a shorter essay, a vignette. From Europe the case studies focus on the Italian mafias and the Russian mafia; the vignette, on the Albanian mafia. From North America the case studies highlight the US Mafia and the Mexican drug cartels; the vignette, organized crime in Canada. From Central America/South America/Caribbean basin the case studies concentrate on the Colombian drug cartels and gangs of the Caribbean; the vignette, on organized crime in Cuba. From Africa the case studies examine resource wars and Somali piracy; the vignette, relations among international drugs trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism in North and West Africa. And from Asia/Western Pacific the case studies spotlight the Chinese Triads and Japanese Yakuza; the vignette, relations among international drugs trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism in Afghanistan. Written in non-specialist language, An Economic History of Organized Crime provides an original overview of a crucial problem of our times: the growing scourge of global organized crime. This book can be read with profit by the general public, but it also has value for academic specialists and professionals in law enforcement.

REVIEWS OF THE SEX TRAFFICKERS KIRKUS REVIEWS “A dynamic cast ignites this absorbing police procedural.” BLUE INK REVIEW “The Sex Traffickers is a compelling read with a particularly satisfying ending.” FOREWORD REVIEWS “In this tension-filled story, there are surprises and revelations involved throughout.” Morgan Kelly is a young female detective hiding dark secrets. She fits right in with the current cultural climate, having always been a representative of the #MeToo movement even before the movement existed. Due to her traumatic past, she works with victims of sex trafficking. With the help of her partner Ben Chang, Morgan’s investigation into the murders of several young women in New York City’s Chinatown leads to gangs like the Yakuza and Triads. Both of these gangs participate in sex trafficking, and Morgan vows to take them down. Her burning desire to free young women from their captors invokes thoughts of vigilantism against unpunished offenders. How far will this young detective go? Will her need for vengeance make Morgan turn her back on legal avenues, or is there another way to bring villains to justice?

Introduction to Criminology, Seventh Edition is a comprehensive introduction to the study of criminology designed for an introductory undergraduate courses. The book focuses on the vital core of criminological theory--theory, method, and criminal behavior. Hagan investigates all forms of criminal activity, such as organized crime, white collar crime, political crime, and environmental crime. He explains the methods of operation, the effects on society, and how various theories account for criminal behavior. New to this edition: Expansion of material on psycho-social and bio-social theories Additional coverage of terrorism in Ch. 11, along with ethics in the research methods chapter, Ch. 2 New chapter on Cybercrime New Epilogue on the future of crime and the newest criminological theories New Career Feature Boxes New Crime Files Feature Boxes End-of-Chapter Web Research Exercises New full-color design and photo program In-text links to study site Expanded study site resources including video of the author and original podcasts recorded by the author for each chapter Blackboard and Web CT compatibility