The ex-Yakuza fellow turned Buddhist-with-a-U.S.-liver, and main subject of the book, Tokyo Vice, has written his own book. Tokyo Subculture has just posted an interview of the kindly old man. As is not unusual for the possibly right-leaning (certainly not left) fellows of his type, he is also somewhat concerned with the lack of patriotism and national pride among Japan's young.
I was pleased to see that he admired Shigeru Yoshida and Nobusuke Kishi for hanging tough when thousands opposed the 1960 U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. I believe that there were some folks of his profession who assisted with crowd control during those troubled times. Unfortunately, despite everyone's best efforts, "I like Ike" was not an especially popular slogan among the trouble-making demonstrators, and then-President Eisenhower's trip to Japan was canceled. The treaty is still around though.
I was even happier to see that not only has Mr. Goto found religion and written a book, but that he also shown a taste for fine literature by mentioning the classic by Masahiko Fujiwara, The Dignity of the Nation.
August 25: Thanks to Durf for pointing me toward The Dignity of the British Nation. I somehow missed it back when Fujiwara's tome came out, but it seems that Britain is in many ways similar to Fujiwara's Japan. Masahiko even hinted at that in his book.
Showing posts with label yakuza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yakuza. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, December 04, 2009
Tokyo Vice
The author of Tokyo Vice has a website at japansubculture.com which he is now regularly updating. Like the book, an antidote to those who believe that Japan is all purity and light.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Ex-Thug writes book, gets rich, has interview,
becomes confused:
...he raises social, political and media facts...[Emphasis mine]
Asked why Japan allows the yakuza, he gives the old "the US does it too" whine as part of his answer:
The (U.S.) government is in fact the biggest gangster group. That's why they are engaged in acts of torture at Abu Ghraib prison (in Iraq) and confinement (at the Guatanamo Bay detention center in Cuba). Compared to the level of atrocities committed in these places, acts committed by Japanese gangs probably rate only about one 100-millionth.
... I think the yakuza show the maturity of a country's democracy. I think a society with the yakuza is a sound society...
He then warns us about countries/governments that have eliminated their organized thugs---Nazi Germany, Pol Pot, North Korea. Therefore, if we eliminate organized child porn producing, drug dealing, extortionist, murdering gangs, we'll become like Nazis. "Where the yakuza aren't involved, nations are."
Although he earlier gave us the fact that the US is the world's biggest gangster group because of Abu Ghraib, he doesn't hesitate to show us that Japan is actually a worse gangster:
...Japanese prisons are said to be worse than Abu Ghraib in the treatment of inmates...From where else but the Japan Times
He (Manabu Miyazaki) also opposes the new lay judge system because a democracy is run by "specialist bureaucrats" who "can often make efficient and fair decisions" and that citizen participation might not always be good*. On the other hand, he is not happy about the charges against Ozawa's secretary and believes that the prosecution has political motives.
The ex-loan shark then gives a very shrewd, shallow analysis of Obama's election: People didn't like Bush, so they elected Obama who is like former PM Koizumi because both are populists.
Of course one should read the full article to get the full impact and meaning.
*Edited to more accurately reflect his actual (translated) words.
...he raises social, political and media facts...[Emphasis mine]
Asked why Japan allows the yakuza, he gives the old "the US does it too" whine as part of his answer:
The (U.S.) government is in fact the biggest gangster group. That's why they are engaged in acts of torture at Abu Ghraib prison (in Iraq) and confinement (at the Guatanamo Bay detention center in Cuba). Compared to the level of atrocities committed in these places, acts committed by Japanese gangs probably rate only about one 100-millionth.
... I think the yakuza show the maturity of a country's democracy. I think a society with the yakuza is a sound society...
He then warns us about countries/governments that have eliminated their organized thugs---Nazi Germany, Pol Pot, North Korea. Therefore, if we eliminate organized child porn producing, drug dealing, extortionist, murdering gangs, we'll become like Nazis. "Where the yakuza aren't involved, nations are."
Although he earlier gave us the fact that the US is the world's biggest gangster group because of Abu Ghraib, he doesn't hesitate to show us that Japan is actually a worse gangster:
...Japanese prisons are said to be worse than Abu Ghraib in the treatment of inmates...From where else but the Japan Times
He (Manabu Miyazaki) also opposes the new lay judge system because a democracy is run by "specialist bureaucrats" who "can often make efficient and fair decisions" and that citizen participation might not always be good*. On the other hand, he is not happy about the charges against Ozawa's secretary and believes that the prosecution has political motives.
The ex-loan shark then gives a very shrewd, shallow analysis of Obama's election: People didn't like Bush, so they elected Obama who is like former PM Koizumi because both are populists.
Of course one should read the full article to get the full impact and meaning.
*Edited to more accurately reflect his actual (translated) words.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Rules? What rules?
Why is it that I hear and read that Japanese always obey rules? Which rules? When? Where?
Its members adhered to the sacred rules of living in a Japanese neighborhood by handing out small moving-in gifts, exchanging greetings with the neighbors and, needless to say, properly sorting out their trash.
I have had a few neighbors give gifts when moving in---about once in a blue moon. Exchanging greetings? Maybe, but quite often it is sorta like Sgt Shultz and "I see nothing, nothing." OK, generally most people mostly sort out their trash most of the time except when they don't.
Anyway, the NYT has its typical article, this time on people suing to get rid of the yakuza in the neighborhood. The police, you ask? Are you insane?
The lawsuit was the first of its kind in Japan, where the yakuza’s offices tend to be out in the open. It shined a spotlight on how the yakuza — long considered a necessary evil, tolerated by, and sometimes politically allied with, the authorities — occupy a place much closer to society’s mainstream than its American counterparts do.
Its members adhered to the sacred rules of living in a Japanese neighborhood by handing out small moving-in gifts, exchanging greetings with the neighbors and, needless to say, properly sorting out their trash.
I have had a few neighbors give gifts when moving in---about once in a blue moon. Exchanging greetings? Maybe, but quite often it is sorta like Sgt Shultz and "I see nothing, nothing." OK, generally most people mostly sort out their trash most of the time except when they don't.
Anyway, the NYT has its typical article, this time on people suing to get rid of the yakuza in the neighborhood. The police, you ask? Are you insane?
The lawsuit was the first of its kind in Japan, where the yakuza’s offices tend to be out in the open. It shined a spotlight on how the yakuza — long considered a necessary evil, tolerated by, and sometimes politically allied with, the authorities — occupy a place much closer to society’s mainstream than its American counterparts do.
Friday, May 16, 2008
The huge, gaping loophole in the child porn law will be closed according to news reports tonight. Possession will soon be illegal with penalties of up to 1 year in prison and a one million yen fine. A tough break for the mob.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Japan's John Gotti
After about the unluckiest day of the last 12 years or so---my 3-day old Canon G90 electronic dictionary blew up; I was stranded 30 minutes from home with no money because UFJ bank & ATMs were closed yet again; and my Canon printer suddenly stopped working---it was refreshing to read an article on the y*k*za. Like the mafia, there is romanticizing about them by some. Others fear them very much.
About 20 years ago, there was a book published by 2 American journalists which was appropriately titled The Y*k*za: Japan's Criminal Underworld. I read the original and the updated version too, but always wondered just how accurate it was. The journalists were based in the US and had access to US law enforcement officials as well as some in Japan, but I wondered how much they could really do working from what appeared to be even more outside than the norm for non-Japanese reporters.
A former reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, that sometimes surprising right-wing newspaper---it actually published a decent book on Japan's WW2 responsibilities---has written an article about the y*k*za in the Washington Post. He was the first non-Japanese to work for the Yomiuri.
Most Americans think of Japan as a law-abiding and peaceful place, as well as our staunch ally, but reporting on the underworld gave me a different perspective...
...In Tokyo alone, the police have identified more than 800 yakuza front companies: investment and auditing firms, construction companies and pastry shops. The mobsters even set up their own bank in California, according to underworld sources...
...In the good old days, the yakuza made most of their money from sleaze: prostitution, drugs, protection money and child pornography. Kiddie porn is still part of their base income -- and another area where Japan isn't acting like America's friend...
[On the relatively recent law banning producing and selling child porn, but not possessing it] The ban is so weak that investigating yakuza who peddle child pornography is practically impossible. "The United States has referred hundreds of . . . cases to Japanese law enforcement authorities," a U.S. embassy spokesman recently told me. "Without exception, U.S. officials have been told that the Japanese police cannot open an investigation because possession is legal."
...talk in Japan of criminalizing simple possession, but some political parties (and publishers, who are raking in millions) oppose the idea...
[US law enforcement officials] can't even keep the yakuza themselves out of the country. Why? Because the national police refuse to share intelligence...
I knew that child porn had been made "illegal" several years ago, but I did not realize that Japan did not ban the possession of child porn. I did know that the Japanese police have always been very, very reluctant to share its information with foreign police.
The reporter then goes on to describe what he calls the biggest story of his life: The deal that the FBI made for the "John Gotti of Japan" to be flown to the USA for a liver transplant.
He had to drop that story and resign from the Yomiuri Shimbun due to pressure from some very kind folks with an unusually small number of fingers. The Japanese police themselves were, of course, very helpful.
The author ends the article with a confession of bias:
Of course, I'm a little biased. I don't think it's selfish of me to value the safety of my family more than the personal privacy of crooks. And as a crime reporter, I'm baffled that the Japanese don't share intelligence on the yakuza with the United States.
And I am baffled that the US, and other governments, tolerate that.
Is it safe in Japan to even refer to this article? Well, its only being done here in order for someone in the know to "debunk" it so as to to avoid confusion and misunderstanding. After all, this is not the Japan of temples & shrines, geisha girls, tea ceremonies, sake, and onsen that we all know.
Full article at the Washington Post here.
About 20 years ago, there was a book published by 2 American journalists which was appropriately titled The Y*k*za: Japan's Criminal Underworld. I read the original and the updated version too, but always wondered just how accurate it was. The journalists were based in the US and had access to US law enforcement officials as well as some in Japan, but I wondered how much they could really do working from what appeared to be even more outside than the norm for non-Japanese reporters.
A former reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, that sometimes surprising right-wing newspaper---it actually published a decent book on Japan's WW2 responsibilities---has written an article about the y*k*za in the Washington Post. He was the first non-Japanese to work for the Yomiuri.
Most Americans think of Japan as a law-abiding and peaceful place, as well as our staunch ally, but reporting on the underworld gave me a different perspective...
...In Tokyo alone, the police have identified more than 800 yakuza front companies: investment and auditing firms, construction companies and pastry shops. The mobsters even set up their own bank in California, according to underworld sources...
...In the good old days, the yakuza made most of their money from sleaze: prostitution, drugs, protection money and child pornography. Kiddie porn is still part of their base income -- and another area where Japan isn't acting like America's friend...
[On the relatively recent law banning producing and selling child porn, but not possessing it] The ban is so weak that investigating yakuza who peddle child pornography is practically impossible. "The United States has referred hundreds of . . . cases to Japanese law enforcement authorities," a U.S. embassy spokesman recently told me. "Without exception, U.S. officials have been told that the Japanese police cannot open an investigation because possession is legal."
...talk in Japan of criminalizing simple possession, but some political parties (and publishers, who are raking in millions) oppose the idea...
[US law enforcement officials] can't even keep the yakuza themselves out of the country. Why? Because the national police refuse to share intelligence...
I knew that child porn had been made "illegal" several years ago, but I did not realize that Japan did not ban the possession of child porn. I did know that the Japanese police have always been very, very reluctant to share its information with foreign police.
The reporter then goes on to describe what he calls the biggest story of his life: The deal that the FBI made for the "John Gotti of Japan" to be flown to the USA for a liver transplant.
He had to drop that story and resign from the Yomiuri Shimbun due to pressure from some very kind folks with an unusually small number of fingers. The Japanese police themselves were, of course, very helpful.
The author ends the article with a confession of bias:
Of course, I'm a little biased. I don't think it's selfish of me to value the safety of my family more than the personal privacy of crooks. And as a crime reporter, I'm baffled that the Japanese don't share intelligence on the yakuza with the United States.
And I am baffled that the US, and other governments, tolerate that.
Is it safe in Japan to even refer to this article? Well, its only being done here in order for someone in the know to "debunk" it so as to to avoid confusion and misunderstanding. After all, this is not the Japan of temples & shrines, geisha girls, tea ceremonies, sake, and onsen that we all know.
Full article at the Washington Post here.
Monday, November 26, 2007
But what about the new gun control laws?
In every article about crime in Japan, the US media always starts off by referring to Japan's strict gun laws and implying that this is the reason ( and apparently the only possible reason) for the relatively low crime rate in Japan. Usually, our reporter will say something like: "Japan, with its strict gun control laws which restrict firearms to police and military, is concerned about the increasing number of thefts of green tea from vending machines." (By Ima Dufus of the Boston Glob). Not only are these articles factually incorrect---rifles and shoguns can be legally possessed by licensed hunters outside of Tokyo and perhaps other large cities---guns often have no relationship with the crime being discussed in the article.
Earlier this year, the government decided it was time to crack down on firearms crimes (the vast, vast, majority committed by yakuza and their rightist buddies) by making the strict firearms laws even stricter. Of course this impressed the yakuza who make a habit of strictly obeying laws.
Earlier this month, a rather stupid gangster decided to murder another rival gangster who was a patient in the hospital. Our idiot took his illegal piece into the hospital room and illegally fired it illegally murdering a man. Unfortunately for the thug---and more unfortunately for the murder victim---he killed the wrong man. Seems the guy he intended to murder had checked out earlier and another patient was in the room. He was arrested today with 2 illegal handguns after illegally firing one into the air when the police tried to arrest him.
A real yakuza thug was also gunned down (illegally) today by rival thugs in front of another hospital. I am guessing he was the intended target and not another yakuza mistake. More gun control is the answer. Not addressing the yakuza issue. I don't know though, with gun control laws already quite strict, just how will making these laws stricter reduce the number of murders among criminals for whom murder is an thing of honor?
Let's acknowledge the explainers: In Japan the yakuza is a good thing because it gives young thugs a place to go and develop into hardened killer thugs while providing a disciplined environment. This is better than just letting them run wild on their own. (And there is not and never has been any relationship between the authorities---LDP and law enforcement---and the yakuza and their right wing nutjob buddies.)
Read more in the Japan Times online.
Earlier this year, the government decided it was time to crack down on firearms crimes (the vast, vast, majority committed by yakuza and their rightist buddies) by making the strict firearms laws even stricter. Of course this impressed the yakuza who make a habit of strictly obeying laws.
Earlier this month, a rather stupid gangster decided to murder another rival gangster who was a patient in the hospital. Our idiot took his illegal piece into the hospital room and illegally fired it illegally murdering a man. Unfortunately for the thug---and more unfortunately for the murder victim---he killed the wrong man. Seems the guy he intended to murder had checked out earlier and another patient was in the room. He was arrested today with 2 illegal handguns after illegally firing one into the air when the police tried to arrest him.
A real yakuza thug was also gunned down (illegally) today by rival thugs in front of another hospital. I am guessing he was the intended target and not another yakuza mistake. More gun control is the answer. Not addressing the yakuza issue. I don't know though, with gun control laws already quite strict, just how will making these laws stricter reduce the number of murders among criminals for whom murder is an thing of honor?
Let's acknowledge the explainers: In Japan the yakuza is a good thing because it gives young thugs a place to go and develop into hardened killer thugs while providing a disciplined environment. This is better than just letting them run wild on their own. (And there is not and never has been any relationship between the authorities---LDP and law enforcement---and the yakuza and their right wing nutjob buddies.)
Read more in the Japan Times online.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Ready for the big one?
Most know Tokyo is located in a major earthquake zone. Most also know that Japan has various laws on the construction of earthquake resistant buildings. My understanding is that if you live in an apartment built after 1981, you are in one of the more modern earthquake resistant jobs. In theory. In reality, you may be living in a shoddily built piece of crap that will turn into a death trap with any sort of strong quake.
Last year a Tokyo architect was convicted of designing numerous buildings with substandard reinforcement in order to save money. He appealed and has just lost the appeal (No surprise, this is Japan, after all.):
In Wednesday's decision, presiding Judge Kunio Harada stated that the accused "not only attempted to dodge liability, but tried to put the blame on others" by lying under oath that he was pressured to fake construction blueprints. The disgraced architect also stated at the Diet that the fabrications began in 1998, when in fact they started in 1996.
The perjury "was an attempt to selfishly protect his own interests, which leaves no reason to consider extenuation," Harada told the court, adding that the false testimony resulted in delayed inspections of substandard buildings Aneha designed. (From JTonline.)
I know a few folks who are employed as architects and who have a pretty good knowledge of the industry. Most of them are Japanese. There is quite a bit of doubt among them that he actually did lie when he said he was pressure to fake the blueprints. According to one of these people, this sort of thing is not likely an isolated case, but the government cannot possibly address all of the defective buildings. I just recently heard a story from someone in this industry about a building which a US company was interested in leasing in the Shibuya area. His company was being asked to bid on the project to help the US company set up an office there. He had to decline as the building, although brand-new, was very poorly constructed with chunks of concrete already falling off the interior walls and ceiling, and massive water leaks were already weakening it. He felt the yakuza was likely involved in the construction of the building. Again, something not exactly unusual in the construction/real estate industry.
I did get to see some photos of the fine workmanship at this site. It sort of makes me a bit less confident in the earthquake resistance of buildings here. I guess if one is lucky and lives or works in a building/home designed and built by honest people who followed the law, you make come out OK. If you live in a shoddy, cheaply made piece of junk, you may have just enough time to kiss your a** goodbye before it collapses on you and yours. The wonderfully exciting thing is that there is no way to know without actually having your place professionally inspected. Since this usually requires some cutting and other invasive/damaging methods, this ain't likely to happen unless you own the house/building. And then, if you find that it is not built to standards, what are you going to do? Sell it? Sue the builder? That last option is a joke, of course. Unless you have 300 years for it to crawl through a Japanese court.
Last year a Tokyo architect was convicted of designing numerous buildings with substandard reinforcement in order to save money. He appealed and has just lost the appeal (No surprise, this is Japan, after all.):
In Wednesday's decision, presiding Judge Kunio Harada stated that the accused "not only attempted to dodge liability, but tried to put the blame on others" by lying under oath that he was pressured to fake construction blueprints. The disgraced architect also stated at the Diet that the fabrications began in 1998, when in fact they started in 1996.
The perjury "was an attempt to selfishly protect his own interests, which leaves no reason to consider extenuation," Harada told the court, adding that the false testimony resulted in delayed inspections of substandard buildings Aneha designed. (From JTonline.)
I know a few folks who are employed as architects and who have a pretty good knowledge of the industry. Most of them are Japanese. There is quite a bit of doubt among them that he actually did lie when he said he was pressure to fake the blueprints. According to one of these people, this sort of thing is not likely an isolated case, but the government cannot possibly address all of the defective buildings. I just recently heard a story from someone in this industry about a building which a US company was interested in leasing in the Shibuya area. His company was being asked to bid on the project to help the US company set up an office there. He had to decline as the building, although brand-new, was very poorly constructed with chunks of concrete already falling off the interior walls and ceiling, and massive water leaks were already weakening it. He felt the yakuza was likely involved in the construction of the building. Again, something not exactly unusual in the construction/real estate industry.
I did get to see some photos of the fine workmanship at this site. It sort of makes me a bit less confident in the earthquake resistance of buildings here. I guess if one is lucky and lives or works in a building/home designed and built by honest people who followed the law, you make come out OK. If you live in a shoddy, cheaply made piece of junk, you may have just enough time to kiss your a** goodbye before it collapses on you and yours. The wonderfully exciting thing is that there is no way to know without actually having your place professionally inspected. Since this usually requires some cutting and other invasive/damaging methods, this ain't likely to happen unless you own the house/building. And then, if you find that it is not built to standards, what are you going to do? Sell it? Sue the builder? That last option is a joke, of course. Unless you have 300 years for it to crawl through a Japanese court.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Kim Dae-Jung kidnapping
Below I wrote that there had been rumors that the Japanese government had been somehow involved in Kim Dae Jung's kidnapping from Tokyo in 1973. That is not correct. The rumors were that Korean members of the yakuza in Japan were involved. This information is from the book: Yakuza, Japan's criminal underworld, by David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Law Enforcement pros tricked again
A policeman was wounded yesterday in another botched raid on a suspected gunrunning yakuza hideout (apartment). Yokohama's finest went to the apartment without a warrant and knocked on the door asking to enter. The thugs declined by sending a guy outside who locked the door in front of the officers' faces. Being unprepared for such stubbornness, the cops with no warrant did not get out the battering ram to take the door down. Like the warrant, they did not have one, so they tried to pry the door open (with what? A plastic spoon?)
Being sharper than when they let Ms. Hawker's killer escape, the specialists then---and only then---decided to send someone to the rear of the apartment to cut off escape. Sometime during this one of the thugs shockingly fired a shot wounding an inspector in the arm. After a discussion and a 30-minute investigation, they decided that the apartment occupants might possibly be criminals despite the fact that they did not appear to be foreigners. (OK, I made the sentence last up, hoping it was not true.)
The guy outside with the cops cleverly escaped (possibly during the confusion over criminals who were not foreigners). After waiting for backup to arrive which then fully surrounded the apartment on the wild theory that perhaps the crooks might try to escape or something, they stormed the apartment----to find nobody there!!
I wish this were a joke, but alas: Japan Times Online HERE.
Guess I can understand why the police prefer to go after British garbage rule violators. It is much safer for the hapless fellows, and garbage thugs generally don't confuse the poor cops by resisting or escaping.
Being sharper than when they let Ms. Hawker's killer escape, the specialists then---and only then---decided to send someone to the rear of the apartment to cut off escape. Sometime during this one of the thugs shockingly fired a shot wounding an inspector in the arm. After a discussion and a 30-minute investigation, they decided that the apartment occupants might possibly be criminals despite the fact that they did not appear to be foreigners. (OK, I made the sentence last up, hoping it was not true.)
The guy outside with the cops cleverly escaped (possibly during the confusion over criminals who were not foreigners). After waiting for backup to arrive which then fully surrounded the apartment on the wild theory that perhaps the crooks might try to escape or something, they stormed the apartment----to find nobody there!!
I wish this were a joke, but alas: Japan Times Online HERE.
Guess I can understand why the police prefer to go after British garbage rule violators. It is much safer for the hapless fellows, and garbage thugs generally don't confuse the poor cops by resisting or escaping.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Another tough case for the police
Yomiuri Shimbun received a package with a revolver, 13 rounds, and drugs in it. The police have not yet confirmed whether or not the handgun is genuine according to an article in the Japan Times.
There must be a mistake. It doesn't take much to determine if a firearm is real or not. It should be especially easy for the police, one would assume. I guess not.
The box was supposedly sent to let them know that a former crime boss is selling guns and drugs in Japan. OH MY GOD!!! What a shock!!! Well, Abe is going to tighten gun control on already banned handguns. That will solve the problem.
(It was written in Chinese claiming that the crime thug stole drugs and money from other thugs in Hong Kong.)
There must be a mistake. It doesn't take much to determine if a firearm is real or not. It should be especially easy for the police, one would assume. I guess not.
The box was supposedly sent to let them know that a former crime boss is selling guns and drugs in Japan. OH MY GOD!!! What a shock!!! Well, Abe is going to tighten gun control on already banned handguns. That will solve the problem.
(It was written in Chinese claiming that the crime thug stole drugs and money from other thugs in Hong Kong.)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Was the mayor really killed over a traffic accident?
Many in Japan find it hard to believe that mayor Ito of Nagaski was really killed because some right-wing thug was angry over damage to his car at a city construction site. The damage was less than 100,000 yen---about $800 US.
"My honest belief is that crime happened because Mayor Ito probably went too far in his peace activism,” said Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of the Nagasaki Council of A-bomb Sufferers, which opposes nuclear weapons. “Why would someone who is near 60 do something like this because of a mere 100,000 yen?” Some in Japan fear that political violence, aimed at silencing opponents of the right, may be increasing here. New York Times.
Full article here.
"My honest belief is that crime happened because Mayor Ito probably went too far in his peace activism,” said Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of the Nagasaki Council of A-bomb Sufferers, which opposes nuclear weapons. “Why would someone who is near 60 do something like this because of a mere 100,000 yen?” Some in Japan fear that political violence, aimed at silencing opponents of the right, may be increasing here. New York Times.
Full article here.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Nagasaki mayor assassinated
The mayor of Nagasaki was assassinated by a yakuza thug last night. It is suspected that the thug killed him because of some sort of problem he had with the city/mayor and an auto accident he was involved in when he drove his car went into a ditch at city construction site. (One report says he had hit a pothole.) The mayor, Itcho (? not my spelling of the name, but from an article) Ito, is survived by his wife and two daughters.
As I recall, another Nagasaki (or near there) mayor was shot by a rightist, but survived, in the late 80s (1990 according to one article) because he hinted that the late emperor Hirohito bore some responsibility for WW2. Reports here, and here and everywhere.
Handguns are banned for normal people in Japan, but rifles and shotguns are permitted in rural areas. The yakuza has firearms of all types and has few problems acquiring or using them.
As I recall, another Nagasaki (or near there) mayor was shot by a rightist, but survived, in the late 80s (1990 according to one article) because he hinted that the late emperor Hirohito bore some responsibility for WW2. Reports here, and here and everywhere.
Handguns are banned for normal people in Japan, but rifles and shotguns are permitted in rural areas. The yakuza has firearms of all types and has few problems acquiring or using them.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Yakuza
Recently, I have been seeing a lot of yakuza in the Ooimachi area. Accroding to some locals, they often meet at a restaurant there. Of course there are a few soapland (basically prostitution sevices) in the area.
There are those who claim that non-Japanese are largely responsible for the increase in crime in Japan. Just the slightest research shows this not to be the case, but it fits in with the traditional Japanese belief that Japan is pure and outsiders are responsible for damaging that purity. The Japanese, you see, rarely commit crimes on their own. And who could believe that any Japanese is responsible for crime in other countries? Only foreigners in Japan are criminals. Japanese who are foreigners in other countries are not. (Of course, we must not forget that when many Japanese go to other countries, they call the citizens of that country "gaijin" which as I have shown is a racist---or at least racialist---term for foreigner. So perhaps the Japanese believe that they are never the foreigner. It's everyone else.)
Well, unfortunately, the yakuza---and the very closely connected right-wing---is deeply involved in crime here (no problem, I guess, since the police seem to be a bit easy on them and other Japanese punks unless it is time for a big show) as well as overseas. They have been involved in crime in Hawaii for decades, as well as in sexual slavery in Japan. The women used for this are non-Japanese most often, but not exclusively, from southeast Asia.
There are those who claim that non-Japanese are largely responsible for the increase in crime in Japan. Just the slightest research shows this not to be the case, but it fits in with the traditional Japanese belief that Japan is pure and outsiders are responsible for damaging that purity. The Japanese, you see, rarely commit crimes on their own. And who could believe that any Japanese is responsible for crime in other countries? Only foreigners in Japan are criminals. Japanese who are foreigners in other countries are not. (Of course, we must not forget that when many Japanese go to other countries, they call the citizens of that country "gaijin" which as I have shown is a racist---or at least racialist---term for foreigner. So perhaps the Japanese believe that they are never the foreigner. It's everyone else.)
Well, unfortunately, the yakuza---and the very closely connected right-wing---is deeply involved in crime here (no problem, I guess, since the police seem to be a bit easy on them and other Japanese punks unless it is time for a big show) as well as overseas. They have been involved in crime in Hawaii for decades, as well as in sexual slavery in Japan. The women used for this are non-Japanese most often, but not exclusively, from southeast Asia.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Knife control hits Japan
Everyone "knows" that Japan is "the safest country" in the universe. Of course, this is said to be partly because of strict gun control laws. Only the police, licensed hunters, the yakuza, and a select few privileged folks may possess a firearm. (Handguns basically outlawed except for the police and the yakuza.)
Unfortunately, there has been a series of murders recently using what must be assault knives. (Swords are also tightly controlled. Sorry, the samurai is long dead.) These are large kitchen knives apparently designed for only one purpose---to slice and stab. One wonders what an ordinary citizen needs with one. You can slice your sushi with a small knife. Well, finally a town has come to its senses and started a "registration" program for buyers of knives which are 15cm or more in length. One must provide his/her name, address, and the reason for purchasing a knife. It is about time we had sensible knife laws in this country. This should immediately reduce stabbing in Japan. As soon as someone about to commit murder tells them he needs one to kill people, the Japanese police will...will...never mind. They won't do anything until the murder occurs. Well, maybe the intended victim can be notified and she can flee for her life. Or, the potential killer would be forced to buy a 14.99 cm knife or smaller, with which he could not kill nor injure anything.
Thank goodness Japan is not like the U.S. where citizens have the right to own guns or even swords!!! If only the U.S. would follow Japan, outlaw guns except for a privileged few (and the Mafia and other organized crime groups), then get the knives. Then, the U.S. will be the "safest country" like Japan. It is so simple.
Unfortunately, there has been a series of murders recently using what must be assault knives. (Swords are also tightly controlled. Sorry, the samurai is long dead.) These are large kitchen knives apparently designed for only one purpose---to slice and stab. One wonders what an ordinary citizen needs with one. You can slice your sushi with a small knife. Well, finally a town has come to its senses and started a "registration" program for buyers of knives which are 15cm or more in length. One must provide his/her name, address, and the reason for purchasing a knife. It is about time we had sensible knife laws in this country. This should immediately reduce stabbing in Japan. As soon as someone about to commit murder tells them he needs one to kill people, the Japanese police will...will...never mind. They won't do anything until the murder occurs. Well, maybe the intended victim can be notified and she can flee for her life. Or, the potential killer would be forced to buy a 14.99 cm knife or smaller, with which he could not kill nor injure anything.
Thank goodness Japan is not like the U.S. where citizens have the right to own guns or even swords!!! If only the U.S. would follow Japan, outlaw guns except for a privileged few (and the Mafia and other organized crime groups), then get the knives. Then, the U.S. will be the "safest country" like Japan. It is so simple.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Murder in Japan
Although the Japanese government pushes the idea that the increasing crime rate here is due to foreigners, stats don't show that. Foreigners commit a very, very small percentage of crimes. That percentage is further distorted by the fact that many crimes foreigners commit cannot be committed by Japanese---for example visa overstay violations.
In the last week, a mother and her 3 children were stabbed to death by an intruder. In another case, two young boys were beaten and murdered by a friend of the father. In the latter case the police had known the children had been beaten before--as did the child protective services, but did nothing. One reason given was that children were to be removed from the home of an abusive parent, but the law said nothing about removing them from home with abusive people who weren't parents. Also, one bizarre statement that the so-called "police officers" made was that since the children didn't actually say they had been beaten, nothing could be done. (The boys' faces were swollen and bruised enough for a shopkeeper who saw them called the "police".)
A month or so ago a nutjob stabbed 7 people in two separate houses to death. It was revealed that complaints had been made to the clowns posing as police about the nutcase attacking and threatening people in the past. Supposedly, nothing could have been done then either unless he had been caught in the act. Since the clowns spend most of their time sitting in police boxes with A/C watching citizens being attacked by yakuza thugs and refusing to intervene, it is unlikely they could ever catch many criminals in the act of anything. (Yea, the yakuza watching incident happened last month when a guy ran to the stooge box and begged for help. The two '"police officers" stood cowering in their booties while the thugs beat and took the man away. This is not the first time such an incident has happened.) Remember about 20 years ago when American taxpayers sent high ranking police officials to Japan to study the secret of its low crime ways? Never got much worth a damn and if you live here, you can understand why. They did get the visiting foreigner ass-kiss and snowjob treatment though.
I do apologize to any real law enforcement professional who may be offended by my calling the Japanese imbeciles "police officers."
In the last week, a mother and her 3 children were stabbed to death by an intruder. In another case, two young boys were beaten and murdered by a friend of the father. In the latter case the police had known the children had been beaten before--as did the child protective services, but did nothing. One reason given was that children were to be removed from the home of an abusive parent, but the law said nothing about removing them from home with abusive people who weren't parents. Also, one bizarre statement that the so-called "police officers" made was that since the children didn't actually say they had been beaten, nothing could be done. (The boys' faces were swollen and bruised enough for a shopkeeper who saw them called the "police".)
A month or so ago a nutjob stabbed 7 people in two separate houses to death. It was revealed that complaints had been made to the clowns posing as police about the nutcase attacking and threatening people in the past. Supposedly, nothing could have been done then either unless he had been caught in the act. Since the clowns spend most of their time sitting in police boxes with A/C watching citizens being attacked by yakuza thugs and refusing to intervene, it is unlikely they could ever catch many criminals in the act of anything. (Yea, the yakuza watching incident happened last month when a guy ran to the stooge box and begged for help. The two '"police officers" stood cowering in their booties while the thugs beat and took the man away. This is not the first time such an incident has happened.) Remember about 20 years ago when American taxpayers sent high ranking police officials to Japan to study the secret of its low crime ways? Never got much worth a damn and if you live here, you can understand why. They did get the visiting foreigner ass-kiss and snowjob treatment though.
I do apologize to any real law enforcement professional who may be offended by my calling the Japanese imbeciles "police officers."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
