Compare and Contrast Yakuza and the Triads

Crime in Japan also involves the Yakuza and the Triads. There are similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads. On the other hand, there are differences between the Yakuza and the Triads. the following paragraphs explain in detail the similarities and differences between the two organized crime groups. BODY: Similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a “family” styled program. The Yakuza was organized under a family relationship. The Yakuza is sometimes described as the Japanese mafia.

The Mafia had a Godfather at the top and the other members of Yakuza are called brothers or children. The Yakuza goes even deeper with the implementation of the unique Japanese relationship described as “father role and a child role”. In the Yakuza, the ‘father’ gives advice to the members in terms of protection and help. In answer, the members of the Yakuza group pledge unswerving loyalty to the Yakuza leader. The Yakuza member is called a Kobun. The Yakuza environment is filled with trust, loyalty and obedience to the Yakuza organization.

The new members are expected to act as shields for their leaders by staying at the front in case of battles, conflicts with the law or otherwise. It is customary for the new members to take the blame and even go to jail for the oyabun’s (leader’s) crime. Likewise, the Triad members must support each other in times of good and in times of bad. This is how the real family works. Clearly, Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a “family” styled program. Further, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member.

The Yakuza members drink a cup of sake to formalize entering into the blood connection between the ‘godfather’ and the other members of the group. This is known as the oyabun -kobun or leader – follower relationship. The Yakuza ceremony is done in front of the Japanese god Shinto. The Triads also accept their new recruits in a ceremony characterized by the killing of a rooster, drawing blood from the new recruit’s fingers and the new recruit’s skin to symbolize a new blood relationship among its leaders and members .

Evidently, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member. Furthermore, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood. Each member of both groups support their leaders with their lives. Some people join the Yakuza or the triad because there is power in numbers. Both groups are engaged in illegal activities like guns, drugs as well as women trafficking . Surely, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood.

Differences between the Yakuza and the Triads on the Other Hand. The Chinese Triad members in Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. The Triad members are less strict in terms of organizational discipline than the Yakuza society. Not all Triad members are gangsters. Likewise, not all gangsters are triad members. Small Triad groups give undying loyalty to their leader. The members of the triad do favors for one another and engage in criminal activities together in a less formal relationship. On the other hand, the Yakuza members are bound by their pledge to protect the leader and implement the Yakuza laws to the letter.

Undoubtedly, the Chinese triad members in Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. In addition, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Today, there are more than eighty thousand Yakuza members around the world. Some Politicians in Japan hire Yakuza members to keep their political opponents at bay. The Yakuza owned nightclubs in China to real estate properties in New York. The Yakuza developed companies by rigging the juicy bidding processes to win many construction projects.

Later, the Yakuza diversified its activities during the unprofitable economic bubble burst in the 1990s. The Yakuza racked up billions of U. S. dollars from loans that the banks could not recover during the bubble. The Yakuza has the money to hire the best lawyers and as many lawyers as it wants in order to pile up their winning streak many of their cases filed in the Japanese courts. The Yakuza has been spread its choke hold into many other countries including the United States. Over seven hundred forty offices were controlled by the Yakuza in the busy Tokyo scene .

The Triad only operated in Hong Kong with its outstretched arms influencing its neighbors. Unquestionably, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Plus, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong triad (now a province of China) is known as the Chinese Mafia. Today, the Triad is highly organized and has spread under a centralized underworld organization where it holds excessive criminal influence over Hong Kong and other other countries.

Definitely, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. The Triad was established originally as a mutual aid association with the end in mind of resolving peacefully conflicts the migratory differences among the different groups in the southern regions of Fujian province in China during the eighteenth century.

The Chinese triad are bound by their paramount subculture that involves powerful patriotism and unquestionable righteousness. Later, these subcultures were rooted out so that the new subculture of loyalty to the triad group and brotherhood would be wedged into the hearts of the triad members. currently, patriotism has been set to the burner because the triad had dropped down to its current criminal gang activities . On the other hand, the Yakuza started as a crime -engaging organization. The Yakuza continues to be a crime -engaging organization.

Obviously, the Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. CONCLUSION: Crime in Japan also involves the Yakuza and the Triads. There are similarities between the Yakuza and the Triads. Both the Yakuza and the Triad were formed under a “family” styled program. Further, both the triads and Yakuza implement formal ceremonies to accept a new member. Furthermore, both groups are characterized by a fraternal brotherhood of lawlessness. On the other hand, there are differences between the Yakuza and the Triads.

The Chinese triad of Hong Kong help each other in times of need in a less serious way than the Yakuza brotherhood. In addition, the Yakuza is larger than the Triads. Plus, the Yakuza originally operated in Japan whereas the Triad has been operating for more than one hundred fifty years in Hong Kong. The Yakuza started out as a criminal organization whereas the Triad was founded one hundred fifty years ago as a legal organization. Conclusively, there are similarities and differences between the Yakuza and the Triad.

Works Cited

• Chu, Yiu Kong. The Triads as Business. London: Routledge, 2000.
• Gilmer, Lillian Roe. “Japan’s Communications Interception Act: Unconstitutional Invasion of Privacy or Necessary Tool?.” Vanderbilt
• Journal of Transnational Law 35.3 (2002): 893+
• Hill, Peter B. E. The Japanese Mafia: Yakuza, Law, and the State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Kaplan, David E., and Alec Dubro. Yakuza: Japan’s Criminal Underworld. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003.