A descriptive analysis of Japanese organized crime: The Boryokudan from 1945 to 1988
Even though Japan has modernized at an unprecedented rate, its crime rate is relatively low in comparison to that of Western industrialized democracies. Japanese society is not crime-free, how-ever. Organized criminal syndicates known as the boryokudan commit much of the serious crime in Japan. This...
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| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1992
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| In: |
International criminal justice review
Year: 1992, Volume: 2, Issue: 1, Pages: 19-57 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Summary: | Even though Japan has modernized at an unprecedented rate, its crime rate is relatively low in comparison to that of Western industrialized democracies. Japanese society is not crime-free, how-ever. Organized criminal syndicates known as the boryokudan commit much of the serious crime in Japan. This article traces the development of the boryokudan in postwar Japan, dividing the era into five periods. The boryokudan are characterized by violence, organizational structure, camaraderie, discipline, and illegitimate activities. Modern boryokudan trends of monopolizing, internationalizing, warring. racketeering, and solidifying are explored within the context of Japanese heritage and culture. In addition, this article examines the level and degree to which the government and the Nlational Police Agency are combating organized crime. The article concludes by focusing on the acceptance of crime syndicates in Japanese culture and the way in which the societal infrastructure facilitates their existence and demands their services |
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| ISSN: | 1057-5677 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/105756779200200103 |