Other countries can learn from the Japanese government
For almost every country striving to progress, one of the more important aspects is to combat crime and ensure that youth spend time on activities that are lawful, and don’t get swayed by the allure of unlawful activities. Now I can’t comment about whether all unlawful activities are immoral, but if the constitution is calling it unlawful, it’s better to avoid it(or rather don’t get caught).
Mexico, Colombia, and a few other countries are known for their drug cartels. The Irish Mob flourished in America. The Russian mafia continues to flourish. If we go on looking, there is every country with a mob flourishing with the support of the government, unless it’s China or North Korea where the government is the mob.
But in one country, Japan, things have changed drastically over the past decade. A country that is inclined to traditional values and systems, the Yakuza has been around since the start of the 1600s during the Edo period. Once the chaotic era of the Sengoku Period ended, there was more peace and samurais gradually began to get positions that didn’t include slaughter. From this period on, the Yakuza has grown significantly.
The Yakuza until the mid 2000s had planted their foot every, most recently they established the now defunct Pride Fighting Championships which eventually went bankrupt.
So how did a syndicate that ran so successfully for over four centuries begin to dwindle so rapidly?
What Started The Decline?
They dwindled to 1/10th of their population 50 years ago.
In the 1980s a violent war broke out between rival Yakuza gangs, and unlike the previous gang wars, this war was ridden with casualties and damage far more than any of the previous wars. The Yakuza had infiltrated the stock markets, real estate, airport managements, and even nuclear power stations. They handled major parts of the economy that basically controlled the country. And it was then that the police and lawmakers began to target the Yakuza’s finances.
The brothels that once provided exotic pleasure to toursits are no longer under Yakuza control. And the Japanese government introduced laws that prevent Yakuza from opening bank accounts, renting an apartment, getting insurance and they’ve been stripped of their most basic rights. Children of Yakuza members are isolated at school and looked upon as unwanted. The society in general has rejected them after all the progress that Japan has seen.
The New Generation Of Japanese Youth
Apart from the laws stripping Yakuza of their basic rights, the newer generation of youth have better employment opportunities, and education. There isn’t really a need that gives rise to the inclination to join organized crime. If almost the same amount of money can be made through legal jobs then there is no point in taking the risk.
Compares this to situations in other countries where organized crime is still booming. Call center scammers in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Drug Peddlers in South America and Mexico. The only thing common to them is that they don’t have opportunities to make the same amount of money through legal activities.
It might be a straightforward idea that reduced crime rate and improve employment economy is good for the country. But that isn’t the case with the Yakuza.
When the US dropped nuclear bombs on Japan, and the people were affected, the prices of commodities drastically increased. Everything was sold at black market price, and it was then that Yakuza stepped in to intercept this. This is how they gained traction with the society. They did even legal duties like settling common disputes, debt collection, financing and other such duties as a service. They were seen as a necessary evil. But with the new changes in laws, they only had access to illegal activities.
With all the above restrictions, ex-Yakuza members who are looking to reform their ways don’t have a place to go for employment. They have no choice but to revert back to their old ways. However this seems like a problem that will eventually fade away as the laws made by the government will deter the new generation.
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