---
title: 'Yakuza: The Whole Truth About Asia''s Most Ruthless and Wealthy Clan'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=BuDVgCEEvlQ'
video_id: 'BuDVgCEEvlQ'
date: 2026-07-31
duration_sec: 921
---

# Yakuza: The Whole Truth About Asia's Most Ruthless and Wealthy Clan

> Source: [Yakuza: The Whole Truth About Asia's Most Ruthless and Wealthy Clan](https://youtube.com/watch?v=BuDVgCEEvlQ)

## Summary

This video dives into the dark history and operations of the Yakuza, Japan's centuries-old organized crime syndicate. It traces the group's origins from masterless samurai to its modern structure, covering criminal activities, income streams, clan hierarchy, and recruitment tactics, and explains why the Yakuza remain a powerful shadow government in Japan.

### Key Points

- **The Yakuza's shadow empire** [00:02] — The Yakuza have controlled regions and earned billions for centuries, acting almost openly as a shadow government and keeping entire cities in fear.
- **Names and self-image** [00:28] — Outsiders call them boryokudan (violent groups), but the Yakuza prefer ninkyo dantai (knightly organizations), reflecting a code of honor, hierarchy, and loyalty to the boss (oyabun).
- **Origins after the samurai era** [00:54] — The Yakuza date back to the 15th-century Tokugawa era, when masterless samurai (ronin) formed gangs involved in robbery, extortion, and mining.
- **First known leader and state ties** [01:22] — Bonzuen Chobei, a former samurai, opened a den in Edo in the 1600s and cooperated with authorities by supplying labor for roads and bridges, starting a pattern of state collusion.
- **Recruitment and irezumi tattoos** [02:31] — The Yakuza recruited tramps, thieves, and former criminals; full-body irezumi tattoos became a painful, years-long symbol of clan membership and endurance.
- **Scale and the richest clan** [03:10] — Japan has about 80,000–110,000 Yakuza across roughly 2,500 groups; the Yamaguchi-gumi, founded in 1915, earned an estimated $80 billion in 2015.
- **Racketeering as the foundation** [04:19] — Protection money from vendors, bars, clubs, and construction companies is the core income; in the 1990s the Yakuza controlled up to 3% of Japan's construction industry.
- **Drug trafficking and smuggling** [05:44] — They distribute methamphetamine (shabu), smuggle weapons, and charge $10,000–$20,000 per person for illegal immigration into Japan.
- **Legal businesses and money laundering** [06:40] — The Yakuza own construction firms, nightclubs, restaurants, and real estate, using shell companies to launder money, including a car-wash and bar network in Osaka.
- **Sokaiya corporate blackmail** [07:36] — By buying small stakes in companies, Yakuza blackmail management at shareholder meetings; this earned billions in the 1980s and still pressures about 1,000 companies.
- **Corporate-style clan hierarchy** [09:50] — Each clan has an oyabun at the top, followed by advisors, regional bosses, lieutenants, and foot soldiers; clans like Yamaguchi-gumi dominate territories such as Kansai.
- **Adaptation after legal crackdowns** [13:20] — Japan's 2011 anti-boryokudan law hurt income, so the Yakuza pivoted to online fraud and crypto; recruitment targets desperate young people, sealing membership with tattoos.

## Transcript

gossip, conjecture and, of course, lies. This is a shadow that has permeated the society of the land of the rising sun for centuries, dictating its rules and keeping entire cities in fear.  They control regions, earn billions and act almost
openly, like a shadow government.  How did they come to such power?  Who is at the head of these clans?  How much money is swirling in their shadow world and why is their influence still undeniable?  This is the Dark Archive.  And today we dive into the
Dark Archive.  And today we dive into the dark history of the Yakuza.  Let's go.  The Yakuza is an organized crime group in Japan that has existed for several centuries.  They are called gakuda, meaning the Extreme Way or Berokudan, which
literally translates as violent groups.  But the Yakuza themselves prefer the more romantic name ninka Dontai, that is, knightly organizations. It sounds like something out of old samurai legends.  But behind this facade
lies a rigid structure built on a code of honor, a strict hierarchy, and absolute loyalty to the boss, who is called Oyabun, meaning father. The history of the Yakuza goes back to the 15th century, during the Takugawa era.  At that time, Japan
was experiencing a period of relative peace after centuries of war.  Samurai who lost their masters became ron, that is, warriors without a master.  And many of them, left without a livelihood, fell into crime.  Well,
where else can you use your skills, literally crippling people?  In general, they organized gangs that were engaged in robbery, extortion and mining.  One of the first known yakuza leaders was Bonzuen
Chobei, a former samurai who opened a mountain den in Edo in the 1600s.  This was Tokyo at that time.  But he didn't just make money from gambling.  Tyubey supplied labor for the construction of roads and bridges, cooperating with local
authorities.  Even then, the Yakuza began to build ties with the state, which would later become their trump card.  Well, and, in fact, the path to greater power.  After all, if, say, you do a disservice to some idiot and are important to him,
you will be treated more loyally, even if you commit some outright nonsense and lawlessness.  In the 19th century, the Yakuza strengthened their influence.  They controlled both mountain houses and prostitution.  and part of the construction
industry.  They were called the mother of Yako - servants of the people, because, as everyone thought, they protected ordinary people from bandits and robbers, although in fact they themselves were.  But, as everywhere, not everything was so noble in terms of the
gang’s contingent.  They didn't always recruit people of honor from the ranks of former samurai and similar guys.  They also took in outright scum.  Tramps, thieves, former criminals, some homeless people who could carry out very cheap
errands.  In general, they all hid their brands.  These are the marks of punishment that were under the tattoos.  It was then that Irezumi's tattoos, which covered his entire body, became a symbol of the Yakuza.  These intricate hand-applied designs
were more than just decoration, but a sign of clan membership and proof of perseverance.  The application process took literally years and was actually pretty [ __ ] painful.  You are literally being poked with one needle.  It's not
like going to some tattoo artist now to get 20 sessions of tattooing with a machine.  In general, today there are about 80-110,000 people involved in this, who are united in approximately 2,500 groups throughout Japan.  The
largest and most influential clan is the Yamaguchi Gumi, founded in 1915.  It's literally a criminal empire, which, according to Japanese police, earned up to $80 billion a year in 2015. Billions.  Just so you can
more than the annual budget of some countries, such as Croatia or Serbia.  Yamaguchigu Gumi operates not only in Japan, but also abroad in the United States, South Korea, and even Europe.  It's all about
money, control of territory and cunning connections with the authorities.  To understand how this machine works, let's look at what the yakuza do and how they got to the top.  Our Telegram link is in the description; there are some
working schemes that are definitely not for YouTube. You can find an article about all of them in the Telegram channel pin.  Let's move on.  What do the Yakuza do?  The Yakuza are not just street gangs in brightly colored suits, as they are usually depicted in movies.
This is a real corporation that combines crime with legitimate business. Their influence penetrates into a wide variety of areas.  From racketeering in the alleys of Tokyo to stock market operations.  Let's look at their main areas of
activity in order.  Racketeering and extortion are the basis of the yakuza's income. This is the so-called business protection, and this is , in fact, the basis for the videos on our channel.  But we still need to talk about this .  In Japan, street vendors,
bar, restaurant, nightclub owners, and even large construction companies pay Yakutza patronage. At the very least, remember how many different vendors there are selling street food or something similar, and
you will immediately understand how much money is being made there .  It works like everywhere else.  Just pay and your business is safe.   If you refuse, you expect problems, fire, or some kind of physical influence on you, that is, they will meet you at night and explain that
you are wrong.  Or your favorite one is threats to your family.  In the 1990s, the yakuza controlled up to 3% of the construction industry in Japan.  For example, they participated in the construction of Kansai Airport in Osaka, receiving billions through
shell companies.  One restaurant owner in Tokyo said: "They come in suits, smile politely and say: 'Pay and everything will be fine.  "Don't pay, you lose everything, including your family."
And yes, it's clear that it rarely comes to that, and it's just a threat. But working there, you can never know what's going on in Sunhui's head in the tea and whether he's bluffing or not. Better to be on the safe side.
Drug trafficking and smuggling. The Yakuza don't produce drugs like the Mexican cartels, but they actively distribute them. Especially methamphetamine, known in Japan as Shabu. They work with international syndicates, sourcing
supplies from Asia and especially North Korea. The Yakuza are also involved in smuggling weapons and illegal immigrants. For example, they help people from China or Southeast Asia get to Japan for huge sums of money, from 10 to
20,000 dollars per person. It's a risky, but very profitable business. Something like what we talked about in the previous MS13 video, when they transfer money across the Mexican border. In general, the business works, but it's not financial.
Advice: don't go there. Legal business and money laundering. Since the late 20th legal schemes. They own construction companies, nightclubs, real estate agencies, and even restaurants. Through shell companies, they
launder money obtained from criminals. In the 2000s, police uncovered a network of car washes and bars in Osaka owned by Yamaguta Guma. These establishments brought in literally millions, but their main purpose was to launder
dirty paper money for the bosses above them. Another scheme is stock trading. Yakuts buy stakes in companies to manipulate the market or gain access to corporate funds. They are often seen using
cryptocurrency pamhems, and so on and so forth. And what can we say if a huge portion of 322 matches in Dota and similar games are supervised by the Japanese? Those in the know will write in the comments and confirm this. The following is...  Sakaya, that is,
The following is...  Sakaya, that is, corporate racketeering. Yes, yes, racketeering again. But be that as it may, this is a unique Yakuza gimmick. They buy up small stakes in large companies and use them for blackmail. They
buy into various people. At shareholder meetings, the Yakuts threaten to reveal incriminating information about management or disrupt some event unless they are some event unless they are paid, and so on. In the 1980s,
Sakaya brought the Yakuza billions of yen, until the authorities began introducing stricter laws. But even today, according to Japanese police, about 1,000 companies in Japan still face pressure from Sakaya. Charity
as PR. The Yakuts, be that as it may, know how to play to the public. They often act as rubbing hoods, helping local residents in times of crisis. local residents in times of crisis. After the Kobe earthquake in 1995, the
Yamaguchigumi clan organized the distribution of food, water, and blankets to the victims faster than government services. Ditto  The same thing happened after the Fukushima Tsunami in 2011. It's not just kindness; it's a way to strengthen their influence and win the loyalty of
local residents. People are starting to see the Yakuza not just as bandits, but also as protectors. We've already seen something similar in the life story of Skobara. By the way, video on this topic. He also built schools, gave grants to children so they could
study, but that doesn't change the fact that they commit insane acts. What's first, what's second? Cybercrime. As technology develops, the Yakuza haven't lagged behind. They've gotten into online fraud, phishing, and data theft. In 2010,
Tokyo police uncovered a Yakuza network that sent fake letters from banks, swindling millions from gullible citizens, who then start treating them well just because they gave them a bottle of water and a
snack. It's insane, in my opinion. But honestly, it works like that everywhere.  In short, this shows how the Yakuza is adapting to modern realities, moving from street crime to digital systems. It all works because the Yakuza
are building a system where fear, money, and connections are intertwined. They don't just make money; they create an empire that controls entire regions and dictates its own rules. And if you break these rules, you're punished. And
I can't show this on YouTube, so I'll post the article on Telegram. The link is the first in the description. How the Yakuza makes money and who runs them. The Yakuza aren't chaotic gangs of idiots, but a clearly structured
organization, similar to a corporation. At the head of each clan is an Ayabun, or father. This is the supreme boss, whose word is law. Below him is the Saikakoman, a senior advisor who coordinates strategy. Next come the Wakagashira,
regional bosses who govern large territories.  Steigashira, or junior lieutenants, are in charge of individual cells. The rank-and-file fighters are kab, or children. They do all the dirty work, from collecting tribute to law enforcement
operations. Territorial control. Each Yakuza clan controls its own regions. For example, the Yamaguchigu Gumi dominates the Konsai region, including Osaka and Kobe, while the Inogawakai rules Kanta around Tokyo. Each cell
collects a so-called tax from businesses and residents of its territory. Part of the money is kept for its own expenses. This includes weapons, bribery, fighter upkeep, and minor expenses. The rest goes to the Oyabun. Bat, there are almost always several
gangs among which the territory is divided. Those who become more influential over time and simply bring in more money are given more power and influence. Income. According to Japanese police, the average income of a rank-and-file Yakuza member is about
$6,000 per month. This is about twice the average salary in Japan for regional leaders.  Cells earn tens of thousands of dollars, while the ayabun of major clans thousands of dollars, while the ayabun of major clans literally earn millions. In 2015, the
Yamaguchi Gumi's annual income was estimated at $80 billion . And of course, this is only an estimate, and no one knows the actual figures. But even such estimates are incredibly large. And yes, this amount of money is comparable to
the income of large corporations. Their money comes from racketeering, drug trafficking, construction contracts, and stock market operations. For example, in the 2000s, the Yamaguchi Gumi participated in the construction of Olympic
facilities in Tokyo through shell companies, thereby earning billions, plus an airport and a host of other local construction projects. Regional leaders. Ayabun of major clans effectively rule their regions like feudal lords. Take, for example,
Satoru Naru. He is the head of the Kudakai clan on the island of Kyushu. Before his arrest in 2014, he controlled the northern part of Kyushu, including the city of Fukuoka.  His clan was considered one of the most brutal, and Namura was sentenced to death
for orchestrating murders, including an attack on a local businessman who refused to pay tribute. Such leaders aren't just bosses, but figures who dictate the rules in entire cities. Friends, a lot of people watch our content
but don't subscribe. Let's fix that. Be sure to comment and subscribe. It really helps with promotion. Thank you. Let's move on. Prison management. Interestingly, many oyanas run their clans from
prison. For example, leaders like Inichi Shinoda continued to give use encrypted communication channels, lawyers to coordinate operations. Prison is far
from the end for the Yakuza, but just another office, as it is for almost all cartels with significant influence. In 2010, police intercepted a message indicating where the bosses were from prison.  They were planning new racketeering and money laundering schemes. And
believe me, these are far from isolated cases. Diversification and resilience. The Yakuza are Diversification and resilience. The Yakuza are incredibly flexible. In 2011, Japan passed a law against the Beriogudan. Their income began to plummet.
Companies associated with the Yakuza were losing their bank accounts and their shares were removed from trading, and businessmen cooperating with the clans were literally fined. But the Yahudz adapt. They turn to online fraud or invest in
crypto and essentially go underground. But the work, alas, never stops. This system makes the Yakuza almost invulnerable. Even if the police bust one cell, the others continue to operate, and so on in a circle, as everywhere else. How the Yakuza recruits and
maintains power. The Yakuza grows by attracting young people. Their recruitment system has been honed over centuries. They seek out those with nothing to lose: teenagers from poor neighborhoods, orphans,  Former criminals or just guys looking for status and money.
These aren't samurai like years ago, but regular guys. The story here is truly similar 10 out of 10 to other gangs. And when recording videos on this topic, everything is practically identical. They are attracted with promises of family, protection, respect, and
what is often missing in their lives. But in reality, they are expendable, and only a few achieve anything serious in the organization. The initiation ritual. To become a yakuza, you need to prove your loyalty. They won't just
recruit you straight from the street for fun. Someone must vouch for you, or you must prove your loyalty. First, small favors, then more serious, more serious, more serious. The final stage is acceptance into
the ranks. Then a tattoo and razumi covering your back, arms, and legs. It's like an oath, binding you to the Yakuza forever. Overall, they're fun guys, and their contests are awesome.  As a reminder, we have an article on Telegram about how
they punish errant soldiers. So head over there, and, of course, subscribe and comment. Thanks for watching. Bye.