Yakuza: De geschiedenis van de Japanse georganiseerde misdaad

by Andrew Rankin

In Yakuza, het historische truecrimeboek van Andrew Rankin, wordt het verhaal geschetst van de yakuza, een van de oudste criminele organisaties ter wereld. Met hun militaire onderdelen en een code van absolute gehoorzaamheid beheersen ze al eeuwenlang de Japanse zwarte markt. Ondanks hun populariteit is dit pas het eerste toegankelijke historisch overzicht van de yakuza.

De belangrijkste activiteiten van de yakuza – controle over gokspellen, zwarte markten, afpersing en de seksindustrie – zijn typerend voor criminele organisaties, maar hun cultuur en mythologie zijn onmiskenbaar, en zijn verweven met de Japanse cultuur door de eeuwen heen.

Yakuza brengt origineel Japans bronmateriaal tot leven: zeldzame, verboden boeken die voor de autoriteiten verborgen werden gehouden in privébibliotheken, en uitgebreide interviews met oude gangsters.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Japan, True Crime, Crime, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2026

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit it. I am one of those people who thought the yakuza are just the Japanese mafia. As with many things, I was wrong again. Luckily, I had Andrew Rankin and his excellent Yakuza to set me straight.

Rankin goes back 400 years to find the roots of what would become the yakuza. The utterly fascinating aspect is how intertwined the yakuza was with both the public and the government. Often, they would act as an arm of the government and take on such jobs as firefighting and protection of far flung-villages. Inevitably, a crackdown would occur or turf wars would explode.

Rankin presents a highly complex and long history perfectly. He introduces a time period and then peppers the narrative with specific stories of yakuza and their rises or falls from grace. The book feels so tightly planned and executed that it feels less like history and more like a crime drama. It isn't often that you pick up a book and get exactly what you want. Luckily, this is one of those books.

(This book was provided as a review copy by Basic Books.)

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this out solely on the basis that I’m a big fan of the Yakuza series of video games, and this book had the word “yakuza” in its title. Sometimes that’s all the connection my brain needs to glom on to a thing and decide it’s for me (although the cover image of that tattoo certainly helped seal the deal).

This is pretty much exactly what it describes itself as, a history of organized crime in Japan. Due to the fact that the yakuza were, for a very long time, just a part of daily life for an awful lot of Japanese people, and heavily involved in Japanese politics, this book ends up pulling double duty as a more general account of the last few hundred years of Japanese history while it’s at it.

Given the sheer amount of ground being covered in a relatively short book I think it’s fair to ask at this point if the history presented here is in depth, rigorous or well presented. I’m going to push back on virtually every review I can find of Yakuza and say no, not really. But it is fun, and that counts for something in a book like this, I think.

Calling this book a 400 year history is a stretch to my mind, as the vast majority of the book is focused on the 20th century. The centuries beforehand, and the decades after, go by in a flash, while each decade of the 20th gets its own writeup. This makes sense from the standpoint of the book being a history of organized crime: the yakuza hit their stride and reached the height of their power and influence during the 20th century. But from the standpoint of this book also being a more general historical account it led to some frustration. There were many moments, particularly in the midst of a couple of regime changes and a civil war, that I was wishing we could pump the brakes a little.

Credit where it’s due, this brevity within the book’s more general history isn’t always the case. Andrew Rankin spends a good deal of time talking about the yakuza acting as strike breakers and right wing political agitators. In doing so he ends up giving a fascinating, and at times depressing, account of decades of labor and leftist organizing in Japan being constantly repressed by the state, working hand in hand with organized crime.

If your definition of in depth history is just “there’s a whole lot of names and facts and dates thrown at you” then I suppose this is a work of in depth history. But if you’re looking for some actual analysis and questions of how and why in addition to a very straightforward narrative then I’d say Yakuza drops the ball. But there are moments where Rankin excels at that stuff, and the writing around the yakuza as political provocateurs are a highlight in that regard.

Another area where I felt like the book tripped up a bit was in its sourcing. As Rankin points out early on, some of what he’s writing here is information being presented in English for the first time. This stuff is largely coming from old interviews with individual yakuza members, memoirs written by various high ranking family members, and from yakuza family newspapers and newsletters (Rankin quotes from these things a lot and it never stopped being funny to me that these guys would just write up official company newsletters about everything they were doing, including regular op-ed columns from leadership, but the quasi-legitimate standing the yakuza had in Japanese society just allowed for this kind of thing). Rankin briefly acknowledges early on that it’s problematic to use this stuff as sources, given that career criminals are generally not inclined to speak openly and in detail about their criminal activities, and are likely to be engaging in self mythologizing when they actually do speak in depth. What he doesn’t do at all is detail how he evaluated these sources and decided what to keep and what to discard.

I listened to the audiobook, and history audiobooks generally don’t even bother including notes and appendices. It’s possible there’s back matter in the print version where Rankin details his methods and decision making, and if that’s the case I’m prepared to eat some crow, but as far as the audiobook and the main body of the text goes, Rankin doesn’t seem to be overly concerned with this question.

So all that said, what does this book do right? Well, it’s very awesome. Like just as a collection of cool shit this is a tough book to beat. Loads of stories about guys with sick tattoos stabbing and dismembering and shooting each other (and in one memorable case trying to procure a rocket launcher to really settle a score once and for all). Rankin mostly resists the temptation to get sensationalistic and sleazy with this stuff, but there are a couple points where he can’t help himself, and while I recognize intellectually that this isn’t great history writing, the fact of the matter is that the moments where he gets in the muck with his subject matter are also the moments where this book is at its most fun.

Rankin is also very good at talking about the culture of the yakuza. Like I said above I was drawn to this book because of a video game series, and this cultural stuff added so much context to my understanding of those games. The samurai trappings, the talk of honor (or chivalry as Rankin terms it), the nonsensical Jekyll and Hyde portrayal of these guys as vicious monsters who are also somehow at the same time heroic defenders of the weak and downtrodden, all this stuff is rooted in the yakuza’s own culture and in the very deliberate decisions they made about the image of themselves they projected out to the world. Subsequent movies, books, plays and video games then took it and ran with it in their own portrayals of the yakuza.

As history I don’t think Yakuza cuts it. But as a bunch of wild stories that added context to some pop culture I really love, this book was a blast. Highly recommended, with that caveat in place.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Rankin’s book charts the history of the Yakuza from the seventeenth century to the present day.

As someone whose only knowledge of the Yakuza comes from popular media, I found this a real eye-opener, and it did a lot to dispel the myths surrounding the notorious criminal syndicate.

The book was packed with information, and Rankin wisely avoided editorialising, which would have been easy given the subject matter. The neutral tone gave the text more weight.

It is incredibly well researched throughout, but I found the historic origins the most compelling part, as they gave me a much clearer understanding of how the organisation became so intertwined with Japanese culture.

Given the more academic slant, I’d hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for only a little information on the Yakuza. Nor is it one for readers wanting something leaning toward true crime. However, as a comprehensive account of the organisation, this is the one to pick up.

Highly recommended.

With thanks to Penguin for the ARC.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragged in a few spots, but overall I learned a lot I didn’t know about yakuza culture. (Aka all of it, I knew nothing before reading this, and now I do!)

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew very little about the yakuza beyond the familiar images of tattoos, missing fingers and elaborate gangster rituals, so I found this a fascinating and surprisingly accessible introduction to their history. The author takes us back 400 years, tracing the yakuza from gambling and street gangs in the Tokugawa period through the upheavals of modern Japanese history and into the present day. What makes the book particularly interesting is the way the yakuza have repeatedly occupied an ambiguous position in Japanese society. They have been criminals, businessmen, political allies, enforcers and, at times, even portrayed themselves as protectors of ordinary people. Their relationship with the police, politicians and legitimate businesses is every bit as intriguing as their criminal activities. There is plenty of true-crime material here—gambling, extortion, prostitution, trafficking and violence—but the author is more interested in explaining how the yakuza became so deeply embedded in Japanese society than in simply sensationalising them. I particularly enjoyed the sections on their influence on popular culture and the way the romantic image of the honourable gangster developed alongside the much darker reality. The early history is quite dense and there are a lot of names and organisations to keep track of, but once the book reaches the twentieth century I found it really compelling. The book is meticulously researched and the author writes clearly and knowledgeably without becoming too academic. The book also provides an interesting perspective on Japanese history and culture more generally.

[Kaela · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

For someone with virtually no prior knowledge of the Yakuza or the Japanese underworld, this book was fascinating! It covers the history of these organizations from their beginnings to the present day, exploring how they have risen and fallen in cycles over the years. Although their influence may be declining now, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found their way back into power when circumstances called for it.

Rankin does an excellent job presenting the facts and history without leaning too heavily into subjective commentary. The book highlights the major players, how the Yakuza are structured, how they interact with civilians and authorities, the businesses and trades they operate, their presence throughout Japan and beyond, and so much more.

That said, while I found the subject matter incredibly interesting, the book did get a little long and heavy in the middle and around the three-quarter mark. There is SO much information packed into these pages, and at times, the sheer volume of facts made it feel a bit dense.

Overall, this is an incredibly informative read for anyone interested in organized crime, Japanese history, or the inner workings of the Yakuza. If you’re writing a report on the Yakuza or looking for a comprehensive, fact-driven introduction to the Japanese underworld, this is absolutely the book for you!

[East West Notes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Rankin’s Yakuza: A 400-Year History of the Japanese Underworld is an impressive work that provides a sweeping overview of Japanese organised crime, tracing its origins in gambling houses to the astonishingly large syndicates of today. The Yakuza, one of the most well-known underworld societies, are tantalising “due to its injunctions toward chivalry and self-control, the military-style chain of command, the warrior-like ethos of loyalty and fearlessness, the strict regime of discipline and punishment.” One may talk about the organisation, but not reveal its secrets. This has allowed Rankin to conduct research and interviews, with assistance from experts and analysts who provided family histories and other print sources compiled by Yakuza families and the syndicates themselves. Much of this material is available in English for the first time, and Rankin truly provides an opportunity to clear longstanding misconceptions about this aspect of Japanese society. Rankin studied and worked in Tokyo for decades before earning a doctorate in Japanese literature from Cambridge University, and he writes about Japan with precision and careful consideration.

There is a paucity of criminology research on Japanese organised crime outside Japan, with most scholarship focusing on the mafia or cartels elsewhere. The introduction stresses that the term “Japanese mafia” is disliked by Japanese experts, who regard the Yakuza as a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. It does seem fair to say that much of their activity centres around protection rackets, even if they generally refrain from armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom or murder for hire. Ultimately Yakuza shows us how loosely connected outsiders on the margins of society became large, structured organisations that operate with businesslike efficiency.

This book chronicles the evolution of the yakuza across centuries. Each chapter focuses on one area and then describes underworld activities there during a specific historical period. It is often said that the Yakuza first entered the corporate world after World War II, especially during the Bubble Economy. Rankin shows that the Yakuza began slipping into mainstream Japanese businesses practices long before that. What changed after the war was the scale of their racketeering efforts and ambitions, not their essential practices. I especially enjoyed the way certain anti-crime measures only boosted crime, such as “chivalry gangs” arising from young Japanese men excluded from the Tokugawa administration. The rigid social classes and strict peace, which was meant to foster security, unexpectedly gave rise to groups of innovative young men existing outside the system through crime. Rankin shows how this history echoes in modern policing, where “Instead of persecuting the pimps and brothel keepers, or trying to eradicate their business outright, the policy was to segregate and regulate. This attitude would be reflected again and again over the years in Japanese policing strategies toward gangster groups and their activities and toward the criminal underclass in general.”

The ambiguous status of the Yakuza within Japanese society has been somewhat due to the ambiguous status of gambling itself. The Yakuza have always been able to thrive in grey areas, or in spaces where police and politicians preferred not to be seen. Awareness of extortion and protection rackets as distinct offences was still low in Japan at this time and certainly not reflected in the law. Police usually stated only that the gang was “preying on” local businesses or “infesting” the local community. Even today, Rankin tells us, Japanese police officials are known for favouring vague language in their ordinances, enabling them to spread their powers broadly. There is an amusing section when he tied this back to a viral video, where netizens tried to guess whether the belligerent people in the video were Yakuza or the police. Police recruiters and Yakuza recruiters often targeted the same working class high schools, youth centres, sports clubs and dojos, so perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise.

As one might expect, the book covers much of the postwar black markets, gambling and sex trades. The Yakuza also aggressively maintained business interests in private security, labour supply chains, construction, real estate, mediating, shipping and the entertainment industry. I have not read much immediate postwar Japanese history, and it was disheartening to learn how little support Japanese soldiers had when they returned home. Such instability naturally led to organised crime. Gang members who survived the war (their tattoos originally prevented them from joining up, but the military became less picky as things progressed) faced the prospect of rebuilding their underworld territories in a defeated nation occupied by a foreign military. Returned soldiers committed robberies and muggings, or fought against each other in civil wars for territory. Others worked as pimps and bodyguards for Japanese women working in prostitution. I was shocked to read how “The bosses’ underlings would lure demobilized soldiers and other unemployed men in the cities by getting them drunk and then transport them by train to a workplace in a distant location. The men were forced to work in coal mines during the day and otherwise locked up inside prison barracks. An investigation by US occupation authorities had discovered that as many as twenty thousand labourers in Hokkaido were being kept in such slave-like conditions.”

After the war, as flourishing crime families spread from their hometowns, they joined together with other families (often in elaborate ceremonies, occasionally with a media presence!), formed large syndicates and went to war with rival syndicates. The more massive these syndicates grew, the more entrenched in Japanese industry and society they became. As these groups fought against one another or people died in leadership disputes, the Yakuza moved once again into the political arena. I was familiar with some right-wing and left-wing protests and violence, mainly from reading about Yukio Mishima and fiction novels from that time, but the overview of Yakuza involvement and their shifting symbiotic relationships with government officials and police just made everything click. I suddenly understood why Japanese friends had given a word of warning about certain areas or places. Many important moments of Japanese modern history unexpectedly had a Yakuza element. I had read internet commentary scoffing at books or articles that suggested off the books money might involve Yakuza, and at the time I did not know what to think. As someone who works in organisations in the Asia region and in risk management, I found it striking that protection money or payments to smooth things along seems almost routine. At the start of this book, I thought the Yakuza were being spoken about like a bogeyman, but their influence really does seem everywhere, particularly in white collar crime.

Some of the crimes were entirely new to me, such as stock manipulation and threatening to publish reports of companies’ secrets or the personal secrets of their CEOs. Public humiliation seems to be a long-standing method of the Yakuza, either as punishment for members (in addition to chopping off fingers) or as a way to extract money or support from business leaders or government officials. Posing as management consultants, they invited corporate executives to parties, lectures, seminars and golf tournaments. Payoffs were disguised as fees for such events, or as rental payments or advertising space. I really felt my own ignorance when reading about all of this, and I realised how difficult it would be for me to spot the fingerprints of Yakuza involvement, even with an academic background in criminology and some Japanese language ability. Perhaps this is why so many outside commentators were so derisive of accusations of Yakuza involvement, because to them Yakuza involvement is a thug in Kabukicho, and not a boss who looks like a quiet accountant. Many of these schemes were appreciated by corporate clients, whose financial greed seemed to override concern for victims, particularly during the bubble economy and its real estate schemes. And may I just say, much of this reminded me of the real estate situation in Australia, and my fellow Australians may be delighted or appalled to read how often the Gold Coast features in this book.

Yakuza involvement in civil disputes was similarly often a response to consumer demand. The slowness of Japan’s judicial system meant that the Yakuza could often provide better service than courts. In this period, Rankin notes that the number of lawyers in Japan was still low, and many problems that might have been resolved legally ended up being handled by the Yakuza. Many standard problems, such as insurance and compensation claims, bankruptcy cases, and basic contractual issues, went to the Yakuza. One realises that perhaps there would be no Yakuza, or at least not such a strong one, if regular people were not reaching out to them quite so much. Since The Godfather is mentioned more than a few times in this book, the reader may be reminded of this: “You found paradise in America. You had a good trade, you made a good living. The police protected you and there were courts of law. So you didn’t need a friend like me. Now you come and say ‘Don Corleone, give me justice.’”

An important function of the frequent rituals and ceremonies that make up formal Yakuza life is to maintain good relationships among members. Gift giving and pseudo religious ceremonies run throughout their history, creating bonds between young men who may have few strong family connections of their own. I really loved the wild sections how the best-known features of Yakuza culture derive from the practices of Tokugawa fire brigades. Many of the noticeable symbols of the modern Yakuza, including family crests, insignias, and flags, come from the paraphernalia of those brigades.

Unexpectedly, this book would be a delight for those interested in Japanese media studies. Whether it is Kabuki, classic Japanese films or folktale heroes with Yakuza origins, these stories of the noble gangster are boys’ adventure novels of their time. The Yakuza were very media savvy, whether operating directly in the entertainment industry or moving into media relations, inviting newspapermen to ceremonies and cultivating experts in media manipulation and PR. The Yakuza of the media had a nostalgic and romanticised depiction, which often stressed their unique connection to traditional Japanese culture. The reality, meanwhile, was syndication, corporatisation, drugs, weapons and the prioritisation of money above all else. I especially enjoyed how the Godfather films, and later Yakuza films inspired by them, began to influence the mannerisms of Yakuza members themselves. I believe I noticed a few things from Tarantino films as well. Rankin is so adept at highlighting the Yakuza’s hypocrisy when it comes to class issues. At the start of the book, he shows how Japan’s hereditary warrior class with no wars to fight created a vacuum, and then that vacuum created a myth, which modern Yakuza bosses later adopted in their own propaganda. It really was like the Yakuza’s PR team watched Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth and took careful notes.

When challenged, they said they were protectors of the underclass, helpers of the weak and the marginalised. Their public acts of generosity, a sort of reputation washing, ranging from disaster relief to building shelters, funding orphanages or organising festival days, became the local community’s experience of Yakuza humanitarianism. Many Yakuza groups enjoyed success and legitimacy, despite later increasing the suffering of the working classes in their own communities. Many Yakuza groups began as working-class organisations, but later became tools to break up strikes, operated by well-off right-wing bosses. As Japan slid closer toward totalitarianism and fascism, a more politically radicalised cadre of Yakuza emerged to provide muscle for the rising fascist state, one which loved notions of Japanese purity and exceptionalism. It is heartbreaking to read how many students were caught up between Yakuza, the police, and strikers. Japanese police officials learned many lessons from the riots, which led to increased manpower and modernised riot responses and equipment.

Amongst these discussions of complicity between the Yakuza and the police, the book discusses class and race at length, particularly regarding Koreans and the Burakumin. Some one hundred thousand Koreans lived in Osaka, most without stable employment, and unsurprisingly then had a disproportionate involvement in criminal organisations. The Burakumin are not an ethnic minority but a caste, which supposedly descend from feudal outcastes who did jobs deemed spiritually unclean, such as leatherwork or undertaking. I had heard that the Yakuza had higher levels of Burakumin members, which I assumed was because they were outsiders cut off from other work, similar to some of the Koreans. What I did not realise was that the Yakuza actively recruited Burakumin so they could benefit financially from the government’s well-intentioned but poorly managed initiatives to include them in society. This in turn shifted public perception of Burakumin from people with unfortunate ancestry to people associated with the Yakuza. It is a tangle to unravel the roots of discrimination, and how anti-discrimination policies carelessly fostered more negative sentiment toward already disadvantaged groups.

This book has moments of dark humour and the absurd, but it is never disrespectful to victims of crime. Rankin often pauses to describe how bystanders might have been harmed, or how Yakuza involvement in real estate might drive up costs and difficulties for the average renter. He also writes with sensitivity and respect toward Yakuza members themselves. While some came from privileged backgrounds or historic crime families, many came from war, unstable homes or cruelty at the hands of the state during their youth. Their experiences are shared not to excuse, but to explain. One of the hardest chapters to read covered sex trafficking, and it also shows the international element of the Yakuza. Many of the unscrupulous methods used to procure women and girls for military brothels were devised and perfected by Yakuza bosses and early international traffickers. Rankin shows how their international trafficking networks helped create the infrastructure of the Japanese military comfort women system. There is one story of a seemingly patriotic man who freed Japanese women from sex slavery, only to enslave them again when tempted by money. The entire chapter is an upsetting and familiar story of women and girls stolen or tricked from their homes, exploited and disappeared by absolute monsters. As Rankin describes, “To anyone familiar with the human-trafficking industry that operates in Asia today, his methods will sound depressingly familiar. Muraoka’s men visited poor households in rural areas of Japan and lured teenage girls with stories of high-paid jobs and luxurious lifestyles overseas. The men promised the girls that they could work as housekeepers or maids and that they would be able to send large sums of money back to their families. Many girls willingly followed the traffickers, while others were sold against their will by their parents. A few, including girls as young as eight, were abducted.” While much of the book has moments of eerie beauty and glamour in its ceremonies and honour codes, there is no hiding the loss and misfortune of those who fall into gambling debts, extortion, trafficking and murder.

For anyone interested in global crime and Japanese history, this book would be a valuable addition to your collection. Indeed, those interested in conducting business in Japan might do well to pick it up. Overall, this history does a splendid job of weaving a thread of social change through the entire book, acknowledging the uniqueness of the Yakuza without fetishising their image, and never losing sight of victims of crime and the human suffering involved. It beautifully utilises visual writing, describing Shinto ceremonies and bloody chases in such an engaging manner, that you feel like you could just about see it with your own eyes. Rankin covers an enormous span of time while connecting pivotal moments in the development of the Yakuza to national moments such as the Olympics and the Tokyo Subway Sarin Attacks. He writes with empathy about racial tensions, police brutality and the gap between reality and Japan’s preferred self-image. He also explains how modern policing and laws in Japan have developed alongside these changes in its self-image. At times, the author assumed the reader could guess the year from context, and I often could not, and while he frequently described how the Yakuza flourished when politicians and police officials needed them to do work that agents of the state could not do or be seen to do, I was not always sure why that hesitancy existed. Perhaps a few lines explaining the cultural context would have been helpful.

These reflections lead naturally to Rankin’s closing argument. “When society needed them, they became tigers, but when society no longer needed them, they became rats.” Yakuza sympathisers argue that the weakening of the nation’s traditional underworld structure is making Japan less safe and more violent. There is a tinge of anti-immigrant sentiment here, as crime coming from outsiders is perceived as lacking the gentlemanly rules of Japanese Yakuza, regardless of whether the Yakuza members themselves were or were not Japanese. Rankin ties many of the threads woven through this history to reveal how moments of national crisis have tended to revitalise the underworld, granting them renewed legitimacy and prominence. Readers will be shocked and rather impressed at how the Yakuza and their methods rise again and again, and always seem to reflect back the realities of contemporary Japan. How does today’s Japan adapt its Yakuza to cybercrime and globalisation? How does this new criminal landscape coexist with ancient crime families? As Rankin notes, “A few Japanese commentators have even lamented the decline of the Yakuza as a symptom of national decay, another piece of traditional Japan fading into extinction.” This page-turner shows that the Yakuza have fallen and risen before, often in times of upheaval. Perhaps this is only a rest before a rebirth.

This title was provided by Basic Books for review.

[Marisa Goldy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review. (4.75 stars)

If you're like me, then maybe your favorite comfort movie series is a Yankee-Yakuza Japanese film series filled with your favorite J-pop stars. Or maybe you're normal. Regardless, my introduction to the yakuza has been mostly through Japanese tv and film, which are filled with stereotypes and caricatures.

Reciting history in chronological order, Andrew Rankin breaks down the origin of yakuza and how they developed into the organizations we know of today. From samurai wanderers to outcasts on the fringes of society, to more sophisticated workers and schemes, yakuza organizations provide jobs, structure, and a family to those in search of it. Rankin utilizes Japanese sources and interviews, providing us with information that wouldn't otherwise be available for non-Japanese-speaking individuals.

This is an all-around primer on yakuza history, and even Japanese history, and you can go into this with little to no personal background. Rankin explains everything quite well, and balances between being narrative and fact-telling. Perhaps the most confusing part could be when politics enter the fray, as now you have to keep track of the political organizations in Japan, as well as the yakuza ones. The politics are important, however, as the ties between politics and the yakuza were especially important throughout most of the 1900s.

The last few chapters are especially intriguing, as Rankin moves into the modern day. As all industries (and individuals) have adjusted to the rise of the internet, smartphones, and new technology, so have the yakuza, some having an easier time than others. The yakuza "industry" seems to be in decline, but as Rankin states, "the next time Japan lurches toward disorder and strife, perhaps the yakuza will rise again."

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Basic Books for an advance copy of this book that looks at the history of a criminal organization known more through its portrayals in media, both good and bad, one that has existed in Japanese society for hundreds of years, gaining and losing influence, fighting and being used by governments for their violence, a group deeply embedded in the society and culture that Japan has created.

As Marge Flanders, a character from the show The Simpsons once said," Perhaps you' ve heard of the Yakuza, the Poison Fists of the Pacific Rim? The Japanese Mafia". Most fans of actions movies, anime, comics and more will be familiar with the term. And much like the American Mafia, the way the Yakuza views itself has taken quite a bit from these forms of entertainment. However as with most things in the world, the history of the Yakuza is far different than what is portrayed in movies and television. Nor do most understand how deeply entrenched the Yakuza are in Japanese society, viewed by some as the price of doing business, viewed by others as the only way a small person can be treated fairly. Governments treat them as something to be used, a tool to keep communists, labor problems and other annoyances at bay. Or as something to be gone after when things aren't going so well. All of this is covered, including the origins of the Yakuza in this book which is both enlightening and page-turning. Yakuza: A 400-Year History of the Japanese Underworld by Andrew Rankin is a look at these various groups, criminals to some, helpful citizens to others, their origins, their battles, and what the future holds for both the members, and those caught in their criminal wake.

As the title states the book begins in the past, 400 years ago, in the time of samurai, and few rights for those who weren't samurai, or part of the upper elite. The Yakuza began in a small way, both criminal in that they stole, and threatened, but sometimes helped in bartering deals for those who didn't have the power, or the contacts in society. Gambling and sex work, frowned on by society was a fertile field, for these Yakuza, who began to run games, protect games, and fix games. The districts that were given to sex workers became areas they patrolled, and also began to supply new workers, and protect people visiting and the women involved. As money began to roll in, gangs formed, and went to war for more territory. In addition, contracts were made in government, money paid, or even more violence offered in support of various programs. Rankin follows all this. The slow growth of corporate blackmail. The support that Yakuza would offer to businesses, controlling striking workers, eliminating problems. The rise of nationalism, and later the massive amounts of money that came from reconstruction after the second World War. Up until today, with Yakuza gangs dealing with new financial crimes, the Internet and bubbles in the economy.

A really fascinating book told in a very good style. There is a bit of a learning curve in the beginning as readers come to grasp with different names, different terms, organization charts, and history. However Rankin explains things well, and things are made clear. Rankin writes not in a academic way, but almost a police procedural way. Suspects are shown, leaders pointed out, violence committed, members injured or killed. Rankin looks at the influence of media on the yakuza, who dealt with almost the same problems as the American Mafia did after the Godfather skewed perception. Rankin does no sugarcoat things, discussing the violence to others, a film director being scared for life, a popular wrestler killed. Educational rather than exploitive.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, both for history, the crime aspect and of course the writing. This is the first book I have read by Rankin, but a look at his other works makes me very interested to read more by him. Perfect for crime fans, fans of Japanese history, even readers of Japanese stories, to get the real facts and not the entertainment versions.

[Catherine Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this copy

Yakuza is a fascinating and well-researched exploration of one of the world's most infamous organized crime syndicates. Rather than relying on sensationalism, Andrew Rankin examines the history, structure, culture, and evolution of the yakuza, offering readers a nuanced look at an organization that has long occupied a unique place in Japanese society.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its historical context. Rankin traces the origins of the yakuza through centuries of Japanese history, explaining how the organization developed, adapted, and at times even maintained surprisingly complex relationships with business, politics, and local communities. This broader perspective helps readers understand that the yakuza are far more than the tattooed gangsters often portrayed in films and television.

The writing is engaging and accessible without sacrificing depth. Rankin does an excellent job of explaining the traditions, codes of conduct, hierarchy, rituals, and internal culture that distinguish the yakuza from many other criminal organizations. The discussion of how modernization, changing laws, and shifting public attitudes have affected the syndicates is particularly interesting, illustrating how even long-established criminal enterprises must evolve to survive.

What I appreciated most was the balanced approach. The book neither romanticizes nor demonizes its subject. While it acknowledges the mythology that has surrounded the yakuza for decades, it never loses sight of the violence, exploitation, and criminal activity that define these organizations. That balance gives the book credibility and makes it a far more compelling read than one focused solely on lurid stories.

At times, the amount of historical detail can slow the pacing, particularly for readers looking for a fast-moving true crime narrative. Those expecting a collection of dramatic criminal exploits may find the book more analytical than anticipated. However, readers interested in Japanese history, organized crime, or modern East Asian society will likely appreciate the depth and context.

Overall, Yakuza is an informative, engaging, and thoughtful examination of a criminal organization that has fascinated people around the world for generations. It successfully moves beyond stereotypes to present a richer understanding of the yakuza's history, influence, and uncertain future. I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime, Japanese history, or the intersection of crime, culture, and society.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Basic for a complimentary arc of Yakuza. All opinions expressed are my own.*

As a lover of true crime, I’ve read surprisingly little about the yakuza. They’ve always intrigued me, but most of my exposure to them has been through movies, where they’re often incorporated into the story without ever really teaching you much about who they are or where they came from. So when I got the chance to read Yakuza, I was thrilled.

Rankin provides a comprehensive look at the history of the yakuza, tracing their origins back to their early days in gambling houses and establishing the foundation for understanding the organised groups they would eventually become. From their beginnings through their rise to power, their adaptations across changing eras, and ultimately their decline, you get to watch the organisation develop across history.

The amount of research and translation that has gone into this book is evident from beginning to end. The writing is clear and precise while still being immersive and engaging, delivering a huge amount of information without ever feeling unnecessary or heavy.

One of the things I appreciated most was the way Rankin approaches the subject without either demonising or romanticising it. He doesn’t shy away from the darker elements or criminal activity woven throughout the yakuza’s history, but he also doesn’t get swept up in the mythology surrounding them. There’s no need for exaggerated flair when the history itself is fascinating enough. What you get is the history, the facts, and the context needed to understand it.
And that historical context is, in my opinion, one of the book’s greatest strengths. It gives you a much clearer understanding of how the yakuza rose to power, how they adapted to changing circumstances throughout the ages, and the strict discipline expected within their organisations.

Yakuza gave me exactly what I hoped it would: an opportunity to learn about a subject that had always intrigued me but that I’d never really understood beyond its portrayal in popular culture.

If you’re interested in learning more about the yakuza and the Japanese underworld, this is a book I’d highly recommend picking up as a starting point. Consider me officially more educated - and considerably more intrigued than I was when I started.

[Mark Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this history of the yakuza from the seventeenth century to the present. I have a modest understanding of Japanese history and a lot of interest in Japanese culture, so even though I tend not to gravitate to true crime titles, I was excited to read and dive into this title.

Unlike comparable organizations, such as the mafia in the United States, the role of the yakuza has been intertwined with Japanese culture and even the Japanese government at times to such an extent that knowledge of one helps to inform knowledge of the other. The book is divided into fourteen chapters, starting with development of the precursors to the modern yakuza that came about in the early Tokugawa, eventually leading to the establishment of many crime families, some of which have continued to the present day, in the tumultuous period in the late 19th century when the Tokugawa ended and the Meiji period began.

Many former samurai wound up joining these organizations and these organizations clothed themselves in the chivalric code they inherited from that class. This created a complex dynamic where leaders of crime families led public lives, cooperating at times with police and engaging in activities to make them look like benefits to society, while at the same time running protection rackets and prostitution rings. Rankin traces the shifts in fortune of these groups, as well as many key anecdotes about individual characters, reaching their high point when yakuza were actually contracted by the Japanese government to provide security for a planned visit of Dwight Eisenhower.

Rankin's style is engaging, often acknowledging wryly the contradictory nature of an organization claiming to provide benefits to society while benefiting from so much predatory criminal behavior. I would highly recommend this title to anyone interested in Japan or interested in the history of criminal organizations.

[Bookish Tokyo · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

“When the world needs them, they become tigers. When the world has no need for them, they become rats."
.
The body was discovered in a barrel in that valley over there, said my father-in-law as we drove towards Shizuoka for the Rugby World Cup. I remember drifting away, looking over the mountains and trees as we hurtled by. I uttered a sound to indicate that I was listening but didn’t fully take in what he said, like a firework in which you see the light and then hear the sound. My father-in-law was an ex-yakuza detective who never really talks about his career, but occasionally, statements are released, and this was one of them.
.
Who the person was, or why the body should end up in a barrel in a mountain, I did not particularly want to know. It is often hard to compute the safety of Japan with the underworld riddled with organised crime. Yet there is a long history of shady dealings and violence. Rankin really is at his strongest when going through the almost Robin Hood-type figures of the Tokugawa period, in which the idea of chivalry was infused with greed and violence.
.
This is a very sober look at the history of the yakuza. There are tales of violence, of course, but it has an academic tone to it. In a way, it feels refreshing. Much of the stuff in the West about the yakuza often feels a bit pulpy and voyeuristic, perhaps even slightly admiring of them. In reality, there is nothing to admire. They have frequently supported fascist elements and have a penchant for human trafficking. This was particularly evident around the war, with leaders and the state colluding in horrendous acts of human trafficking and rape.
.
I liked this book because of my connections to Japan and didn’t mind the rather academic tone, but this is not a book to read if you want an emphasis on fast-paced violence or true crime; otherwise, you might find it a touch dull. Thanks to Elliott & Thompson Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book knowing very little the yakuza other than the taboo regarding tattoos in Japan is centered largely around them. When I saw this title I was instantly intrigued to learn more about this organized crime syndicate that is so shrouded in misconception and lore.

This book covers 400 hundred years of history of the yakuza so you will learn not only about the origins of the yakuza but also much about Japanese history in general. As you go through the years you continue to learn more about Japan, the culture most of us know and the side we don’t often see in the media.

This book was clearly well researched and had a tone that I look for in all my true crime and non fiction books. It is written in a matter of fact style that isn’t dry or overly academic. It is the style that is easy to read and follow but also isn’t editorialized. There are a lot of names and terms that come up in this book and if you are not a Japanese speaker it can be particularly hard to track all the key players but the author does a fantastic job of reminding you throughout who these people are and what some of these terms mean.

While this is a historical non fiction book it is also a true crime book. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Japanese history or the history of organized crime. If you are somewhat familiar with the yakuza primarily from popular culture, pick this one up for a fascinating discussion on the accuracy of the myths and perceptions floating around and what is fictional and what has been sensationalized.

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We need to become the kind of thugs that people can love."

I admit, I was drawn in by the cover. I'm only human. But at the same time, I ended up learning a ton I wasn't expecting to about, not only the roots of the yakuza (just 'yakuza'? I'm still not clear if you say 'the yakuza' or 'yakuza', but moving on), but also Japanese history in general. This is an incredibly well researched and extensive history on how the yakuza began, their origins in early Japanese instability, and their rise in the Japanese underground.

Interesting, but at the same time, it felt a bit repetitive and dry in the middle. I was fascinated with the early book information about extortion and racketeering in early Japan, especially the info about the firemen paid by the fire and spending more time stopping other groups from cashing in than putting out fires. I also really liked the rise of yakuza from around the 1930s on, how they managed to integrate themselves so fully into politics and commerce is amazing. But the middle parts felt like it was just person after person, group after group, with the same sorts of underworld origins over and over again. It's obviously still part of yakuza history, but it just read the same after a while. I'll also say if you're looking for any info about the yakuza today, maybe pass on this book. Other than the very conclusion of the book, this is all historical information.

I still really enjoyed this book though! For a group I didn't know much about, I learned a ton! Highly recommend if you're interested at all in the topic.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The Yakuza are one of those ‘secret’ societies somewhat shrouded in mystery. Most people have heard of them (and nearly everyone who has played a video game has, given the franchise of the same name) but there’s a lot about the Yakuza that remains occluded. On this basis, this book was absolutely fascinating.

Rankin lays things out pretty well- this is academic, but it’s well written and well pulled together. I do think there was perhaps a bit more info that could have been included, particularly for the modern era, but the history of the organisation was particularly fascinating.

The exploration of all of the facets of extortion and management of different precincts was particularly in-depth and fascinating. The constant comparison to the ‘Mafia’ in popular culture is noted and criticised, and rightfully so. There’s so much more to the Yakuza and not everything can be compared to a Western ‘equivalent’, and that book makes very distinct note of this.

The way that the Yakuza has evolved to fit modern Japanese society was also particularly interesting. There is a distinct focus on the fact that there has been a storied history of the organisation, and this book draws a very decent focus onto this as well.

As a whole, this book was an interesting deep dive into the Yakuza. While a little dry in the middle, it is well worth the time and academic interest.

[Zachary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always heard about the yakuza and picked up bits and pieces about them over the years, but I had never really learned about their true history. When I first came across this book, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into it, but as I continued reading, I found myself becoming engrossed in the story.

As I read, I was surprised by just how deeply involved the yakuza have been in Japanese history. It’s amazing to see how much of an influence they had in shaping Japan and how they continue to be a part of Japanese society today. What really stood out to me were some of the cities where the yakuza had a strong presence, including Hiroshima. It was almost unsettling to think that several of the cities I’ve visited in Japan were once yakuza hotspots.

This book provides a fairly general history of the yakuza, and I felt there is still so much more to learn about this mysterious group. I also appreciated how much work the author clearly put into researching and gathering the information presented in the book.

If you’re curious about the yakuza and want to learn more about their history and influence, I’d recommend giving this book a try. I certainly look forward to learning more about this mysterious group and seeing what else can come to light.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yakuza: A 400 Year History of the Japanese Underworld gives us a peek into the organized crime syndicates in Japan. Prior to noticing the title of this book, I had no idea how extensive the history of the Yakuza was in Japan and had little knowledge of how it differed from other organized crime organizations. Rankin's writing was easy to read - it felt more true crime than dry history book - and takes the reader from the formation of organized crime syndicates to current day. Along the way, we explore everything from the celebration to the demonization of the Yakuza by the Japanese government, as well as big business owners in Japan. It was very interesting to pick up on the highly intertwined relationship the Yakuza organizations have had with the Japanese government over hundreds of years - at times acting as privileged enforcers, while at other times serving as the scapegoat for all things "wrong" in Japan. The openness with which membership is handled, while still concealing the rituals and covering any criminal tracks was an interesting and different aspect compared to other organized crime groups across the world and helped to really flesh out Rankin's book with details that would likely have been hard to find about other, more secretive organizations.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yakuza are a fascinating element of Japanese culture and this book does a good job of breaking through the mystique and explaining how it operates. The most interesting fact is that unlike the Mafia, the Yakuza is not a secret organisation. It's not illegal to be a yakuza (although a lot of their activities are) so their headquarters are out in the open. There are interesting parellels with the Mafia as the Yakuza also present themselves as men of honour.

A key takeaway from this book is that the reason the Yakuza avoided persecution was that it provided a service to people and even sometimes to the Government. They offer protection to businesses (though this usually turned into extortion), could negotiate disputes and be used to crush labour unrest or leftist protesters. But the book doesn't gloss over the fact that it is a criminal organisation based on exploiting people and extracting as much wealth as possible from them.

Overall, an interesting read that does a good job explaining the history, though at times the lists of names became overwhelming.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie (Semi Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Im fascinated by Japanese culture but am only familiar with their history from WWI on. Japanese recorded history goes back so far it’s daunting to jump in. I love using the lens of the Yakuza as an entry point to start engaging with their larger history. Rankin has a depth of knowledge that makes it easy to take it all in. If you love learning about organized crime or a passion for Japan I highly recommend this book!

It takes about 100 pages to speed through the origins of the yakuza. This was the most difficult section to get through. The Yakuza’s early beginnings are fascinating but the material is dense. The last 200 pgs take us from the early 1900s to present day and the book really starts to whip along. The Yakuza are so deeply embedded in Japan that they are just a part of everyday life. Theres a completely different level of acceptance vs how the US approaches organized crime. Only by tracing the Yakuza’s history can we understand how this evolved over time.

[Stefan Nordin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A few years ago I spent a lot of time reading about Japanese history and culture. I remember looking for books about the yakuza after reading Jake Adelsteins Tokyo Vice and not finding any that were to my liking. If I had Andrew Rankins book then it would have been a instant add to my japan shelf.
It’s a very readable and accessible history of the yakuza from its origins as gambling families in the 1600:s to the multinational corporations they are today.
Extremely well researched and detailed but never dull. Rankin keeps the story moving at a brisk pace that will keep any true crime fan interested.
A great add for either your japan collection or your true crime shelf.

[Jeong Sieun Alexandrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this read knowing only a very few things and some legends about Yakuza and the underworld world in Japan. I truly appreciated the detailed and chronological way it was written. The very extensive list of references and furture notes was a definitely good point too.
I learned a lot and discovered aspects I never heard a whisper about before !
The only reason I put 4 ☆ is that it felt a little bit hard to digest at times so I hope the final edition will be a bit less compact text wise ?

Very thankful to NetGalley & the author's team for the ARC 🙌

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is incredibly detailed on the history of the Yakuza. It is impressive how much time and research the author put into this book. It is amazing to learn about how the history of the art of tattooing came to be, as well as the rise and fall of the different factions that made the Yakuza what it is today. Few oyabun, or heads of criminal organizations, lived to an old age due to politics, rival gangs, financial opportunities, and changing times.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Azam Ch. · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this out of curiosity about greed, as i am also greedy, and i wanted to know what drove all these men to such bizarre antics + rankin being one of my favorite authors,
as they say : for two beggars a single blanket may be enough but for two kings even the world may not be enough, and this was the japan chapter of dandy, greedy, swaggering criminals.
i enjoyed it, especially the parts where rankin describes their memoirs and psychology. good stuff. >insert popcorn.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of so much information. I really did learn so much from it. Not only is this talking about the Yakuza, but how it related to all eras of Japan and its culture and interacting with the rest of the world. And I really liked learning about how all of that was connected and related.

I also appreciated the inclusion of paintings and photographs. I always want that in a non-fiction book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.
I'm a person that loves true crime and learning more about things and this book captivated me from the start. I really liked to know how the Yakuza came to be.
This book is very rich in knowledge and I was also very fascinated by somethings I learned.
I want to thank Netgalley,the author and the publisher for sending me an ARC

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating walkthrough of Yakuza history! It was really fun to read through their origins, their role in Japanese society, their participations in civil wars and how the World Wars impacted them, and their current standings.

Thanks to Netgalley and Basic Books for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impeccably researched, this book takes you from samurai culture to post-coronavirus. While the first few chapters deal with a larger period of time, once we get to the 20th century, each decade gets its own chapter. It’s thorough, fascinating, and utterly engrossing.

[Vinny Badolato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really thorough and deeply researched; sometimes too in depth. But deserves a lot of credit