Business continuity planning (BCP) is an effective strategy to build resilience. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), companies with BCP plans experienced significantly fewer impacts to their financial soundness compared to firms without such plans.
Disaster simulation drills are another effective means of engaging stakeholders in preparedness efforts, according to Resilient Industries in Japan report. Businesses which conduct simulation drills tend to experience lower disaster losses and recover faster compared to those that don’t participate.
Yakuza Culture
In Japan, Yakuza are considered an integral part of society and are seen as semi-legitimate organizations with connections not limited to law enforcement alone. Their influence over time has continued unabated.
These groups foster an intensely familial sense, with members engaging in various ritual ceremonies to strengthen and highlight their social hierarchy.
The yakuza have strict rules regarding their relationships with other groups. For instance, they cannot steal from other gangs to gain power and become stronger themselves.
Another key element of their culture is the hierarchical structure found within their syndicates. There are two primary ranks within these syndicates: Oyabun („boss”) and Kobun („master”). Oyabun typically serve as parental figures, providing guidance and direction for underlings while Kobun are seen as right-hand men who receive undivided devotion from their bosses.
One of the defining characteristics of a yakuza member is their tattoos, known as irezumi. These highly ornate designs typically incorporate traditional Japanese themes. Many times hand-poked by skilled professionals over months or even years.
Tattoos designed as irezumi represent the group that the gangster belongs to and can also include their name. Many times these tattoos serve as an act of penance for any wrongdoings they have committed in the past.
Not all gang members were born into the yakuza culture; some did have backgrounds in criminal activities prior to joining. This is especially true among ethnic Korean gang members that can often be found around Tokyo.
Most yakuza members are descended from burakumin (lower-class people). These groups were discriminated against in Japanese society until mid-Edo period when their social standing was restored.
Reestablishing their social status was essential in elevating gangs to prominence. Under Japanese government recognition, these groups received surnames and could carry swords.
Yakuza Crime
The Yakuza (or jak-fa-sha in Japanese slang) is an intricate network of crime syndicates which can reap billions in profits annually via illicit means. Using every available technique they have available to them they have managed to amass fortunes through illegal profiteering schemes. Japan boasts more organized crime gangs than anywhere else in the world, with 22 boasting membership numbers exceeding 80,000. Yakuza have been around since Edo Japan but remain an effective threat today in Tokyo – so how should people deal with them? Law enforcement efforts must be combined with intelligent money management strategies. Every town has a few yakuza fans but their newer generations differ significantly from previous incarnations.
Yakuza Money Laundering
Money laundering by Yakuza gang members involves secretly converting illegal gains into legitimate assets by secretly depositing it into bank accounts overseas – usually in the US.
Yakuza money laundering takes various forms. It may be related to drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling, extortion, loan-sharking or other criminal activities.
One way that the Japanese real estate market serves as a conduit for money laundering by the yakuza is through real estate investment. They took full advantage of Japan’s vibrant housing market during the 1980s by setting up mortgage companies called jusen that issued loans they never repaid back to them.
Another yakuza money-laundering technique uses virtual currencies. Some yakuza groups utilize the internet to transfer funds directly into bitcoin and other digital forms that can easily be converted to physical cash or used as collateral in loan transactions. Law enforcement authorities find these difficult to monitor.
A Japanese journalist reported that one unit of Yamaguchi-gumi was using a Chinese intermediary to launder proceeds from voice phishing and drug trafficking through various exchanges, with money ending up deposited into five or six bank accounts in the US, Europe and Russia.
The international connections of the yakuza are expanding as some gangs expand their partnerships with other crime organizations – with Russia’s mafia in particular being particularly noteworthy.
Australia is being targeted by yakuza syndicates looking to invest and extract extortionist profits from businesses and individuals alike. Over the past year, four separate investigations were opened by Federal Police into possible criminal investments or activity connected with these syndicates in Australia.
As Japan expands its crackdown against yakuza gangs, Australian businesses and individuals are being targeted by these criminal organisations as part of an attempt to make money off them. Yakuza gangs use various strategies for seizing control over local and global markets.
Under their strategy are bribery and extortion of businesspeople within an industry, including construction and mining sectors in Australia. Furthermore, yakuza members attempt to buy into Australian industries.
As a result of recent money laundering scandals in Japan, banks and securities firms are becoming more aware of yakuza money-laundering, and have implemented measures to combat it. Finance Minister Taro Aso and others have advocated for tighter banking rules to stop criminal gang members from raising capital through money-laundering schemes.
Yakuza Members in Australia
Yakuza members represent an extensive and varied collection of individuals engaged in criminal organizations worldwide; Australia being one of their key markets.
The Yakuza is an extremely violent gang which engages in money laundering, drug trafficking and extortion activities. They operate not only within Japan but are also present in Thailand, China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
There are various Australian Yakuza clubs, each boasting its own distinct characteristics and members. Some clubs tend to draw predominantly Anglo-Celtic membership while others may focus on Middle Eastern culture or ethnicity. Furthermore, American clubs such as Gypsy Joker MC are active as well; one such club was accused of murdering West Australian police senior investigator Don Hancock and Lawrence Lewis by bombing their cars in 2001.
Some yakuza members in Australia are known to travel abroad in search of legal gambling venues, using their cash to visit casinos and gamble. Although this appears to be their official reason for visiting Australian casinos, reports indicate they could also be there illegally laundering money and betting on sporting events – although this seems rare.
Similar to their South East Asian counterparts, members of the Yakuza are known to travel throughout Asia in search of weaponry like surface-to-air missiles from local companies. One member was arrested while trying to purchase these missiles in Myanmar from local suppliers.
As Yakuza are well known for engaging in violence and organized crime, there is a real risk that visiting members could put in harm’s way; however, it remains unknown as to the exact number travelling to Australia currently. Law enforcement agencies’ and media’s keen eye may discourage more than temporary visits from this group of visitors.