Since the beginning of governments there have been a select few individuals that oppose the laws of the land and consistently run afoul of the law. These groups of people are often organized into groups know as the mafia or gangs. They operate as a single unit with a common purpose and goal; money and intimidation of political figures in order to further the organizations wealth and status. Two such organizations the Russian Mafia, which dates back to the times when Czars ruled the country and the Japanese Yakuza, which are believed to be formed sometime during the Edo period of Japanese History (1603-1868) share similarities in operations and activities but also differ in organization and historical lines. We will look at the organization, history and methods of each of these criminal organizations.

The history of Yakuza also known as gukudo, is believed to originate sometime between 1603 and 1868. This criminal organization that is still operates today in Japan is referred to by a couple of different names. The Japanese police have labeled them boryokudan, literally translated as “violence group”, while the Yakuza call themselves ninkyo dantai, literally translated as “chivalrous organizations.” There appears to be quite a disparity as to how the police view the Yakuza and how they view themselves. The Yakuza appears to have been formed for two classes of people during the edo period of Japanese history. The Tekiya and Bakuto were the two classes of people that the Yakuza organization was formed from. The Tekiya or peddlers was primarily involved in the sale of illegal or stolen goods while the Bakuto were the individuals that ran or were involved with gambling.[1] The Tekiya was one of the lowest social groups of people during the Edo period. These individuals began to organize themselves into groups which started to dabble into the commercial side of business. The Tekiya started their “organized crime” in renting stalls at the local fair and providing protection to those that rented the stalls.[2] As time passed the Edo government formally recognized the Tekiya and provided them with a surname and the privilege of carrying a sword.[3] The ability for traders to carry a weapon, whether it was for protection or some other illicit activity was afforded only to noblemen and samurai prior to this. While the Tekiya may have been the lowest social class during this period this recognition certainly moved them a couple step up the social chain. The second group that formed the foundation that the Yakuza began with was that of the Bakuto or gamblers. These individual were a group that found themselves even further down the social ladder than the Tekiya. Gambling was illegal in Japan during this period, making this group of people in opposition to the law from their onset. The Bakuto organized gaming houses in places such as abandoned temples or shrines all over Japan. Activities of the Bakuto included things such as gambling houses and loan sharking. The Bakuto provided security for themselves and did not depend on outside help to maintain their gaming houses. According to Kaplin and Dubro much of the distaste and distain of the Yakuza is because of the Bakuto. Much of the tradition and rituals seen during the formation of the Yakuza are still present today. Initiation ceremonies and Tekiya or Bakuto rituals are still practiced today in modern Japan. While the Yakuza organization has diversified into more modern crimes groups still identify themselves by the names originally used to form the organization. As an example, groups whose primary source of money comes from illegal gambling activities refer to themselves today as Bakuto. Today the Yakuza is split into 5 principle families. The largest of these families, the Yamaguchi-gumi, has somewhere between 50 and 70 percent of all members of the Yakuza.[4] We will discuss further each of these families in the organization part of the paper. Suffice it to say what started as a two class criminal organization that sold shoddy goods and ran gambling houses has turned into an international organization involved in criminal activities in Asia and the United States. The organization is believed to have some 87,000 active members today.

The Russian Mafia can trace its roots back to the period of czarist regimes and evolved into a system today that is called Vory V Zakone, which means Thieves in Law. The original Russian mafia was made up primarily of criminals that were recruited into the organization within the Russian prison system. Several simple rules were placed upon the members, the most prevalent of which was the vow to never cooperate with authorities on any level except for bribery or intimidation. Many of the members of the Russian mafia took Stalin’s offer for amnesty for taking up arms and fighting for mother Russia. Many of these individuals were attack and killed upon return to prison by those who remained loyal to the rules of thieves. [5] The rise of the Russian Mafia or Mafiya jumped from a national to international scene following the fall of the Soviet Union. The organization of the Russian mafia moved from a group of undereducated prisoners to what today is a group of degreed, well educated individuals that are very prominent on the international scene.[6] The Russian organized criminal organization has its roots emplaced in the economic structure of the country. Unlike that of the Japanese, Colombian, Italian or Mexican whose ties are ethnic or familial. This groups of people grew out of the necessity to have mutually beneficial relationships within the world of thieves. The government as well as the mafia were involved in the organized crime within the borders of Russia, and some would say today outside.[7] The government operated the “legal but regulated” side of the organized crime while the mafia operated all of the illegal activities. It is believed that the Russian mafia (government included) included some 1.5 million people, that both rewarded and punished individuals equally.[8]

Organization

Employment methods

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[1] (Kaplin & Dubro, 2003)
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/187085.pdf
[6] http://orgcrime.tripod.com/ruscartel.htm
[7] http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/187085.pdf
[8] http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/187085.pdf