How Gen Z Killed the Yakuza

Summary

The video explores the decline of the Yakuza, Japan's notorious crime syndicate, and how it is being inadvertently accelerated by Gen Z's cultural shifts. The Yakuza, once thriving on violence and a strict hierarchical structure, now faces a dual crisis: legal crackdowns and the rise of digital crime. Gen Z, with their preference for autonomy and digital-native lifestyles, are turning away from traditional crime organizations. Instead, they gravitate toward more flexible, tech-driven criminal networks like 'Tokuro,' which operate without the rigid structure of the Yakuza. This generational shift reflects broader societal changes, from work culture to family dynamics, as Gen Z navigates a rapidly changing world.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Yakuza, once a powerful crime syndicate in Japan, is facing significant decline due to a combination of legal crackdowns, economic shifts, and generational changes.
• 😀 In the 1960s, the Yakuza had over 180,000 members, but their numbers have now dropped to fewer than 20,000 and continue to decline.
• 😀 The Yakuza has historically operated openly, with businesses, offices, and even business cards, which has contributed to their mixed reputation in Japanese society.
• 😀 Since the 1990s, Japan has passed increasingly stringent laws targeting the Yakuza, making it difficult for them to interact with legitimate businesses, effectively cutting off many of their revenue streams.
• 😀 The shift to a digital economy has made physical violence and traditional criminal activities like extortion less profitable, further reducing the Yakuza's competitive advantage in the criminal world.
• 😀 Gen Z, who are digital natives, are less interested in joining traditional organized crime syndicates like the Yakuza due to their rigid hierarchy, lack of individuality, and slow progression into criminal activities.
• 😀 The Yakuza's aging membership and low recruitment of younger individuals (only 5.4% are in their 20s) further contribute to their downfall.
• 😀 Gen Z criminals prefer new, flexible criminal organizations like the Tokuro, which operate more fluidly, often using digital platforms and offering anonymity, low commitment, and immediate rewards.
• 😀 The Tokuro, a newly emerging form of organized crime in Japan, is described as a more decentralized, gig-economy-style group that recruits primarily through encrypted apps and social media platforms.
• 😀 Despite the Yakuza's attempts to adapt by possibly shifting their operations online, the rise of Tokuro presents an existential threat to traditional crime syndicates, with Tokuro's recruitment surpassing that of the Yakuza in arrests made.

Q & A

How have the Yakuza's numbers changed over time, and why is this significant?

The Yakuza's membership has significantly declined from more than 180,000 members in the 1960s to fewer than 20,000 today. This decline is important because it reflects the weakening of the Yakuza's influence, both due to increasing government crackdowns and shifts in the economy that make their violent business model less effective.

What role did the Yakuza play in Japanese society historically?

Historically, the Yakuza were seen as a mixed force in Japan. While they were involved in organized crime, they also helped in certain disaster relief efforts, such as during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. They were also seen as protectors of the weak and upholders of local order, despite their criminal activities.

What legal changes have weakened the Yakuza?

The Japanese government passed laws, such as the 1992 anti-bodan law, which made it illegal for businesses to work with the Yakuza. This has severely impacted their revenue streams and made it difficult for members to engage in everyday activities like opening bank accounts or renting apartments.

How has the shift from a physical to a digital economy affected the Yakuza?

The shift to a digital economy has made the Yakuza's traditional reliance on physical violence and illegal activities like extortion and gambling less effective. Digital crimes such as hacking, online scams, and ransomware attacks are more profitable and don't require violence, putting the Yakuza at a disadvantage.

What challenges are the Yakuza facing in adapting to the digital economy?

The Yakuza are struggling to pivot from their reliance on physical violence to digital crime. Their hierarchical structure and traditional ways of doing business are not well-suited for the flexible, fast-moving digital criminal economy, making it difficult for them to compete.

Why is Gen Z considered a threat to the Yakuza?

Gen Z is seen as a threat to the Yakuza because they are not interested in joining the Yakuza. They value individualism, flexibility, and autonomy, which contrasts with the Yakuza's collectivist structure, rigid hierarchy, and strict loyalty demands. This generational shift leaves the Yakuza without a new generation of recruits.

What is the significance of the Yakuza's aging membership?

Over half of the Yakuza members are older than 50, with the average age being 54 as of 2023. This aging membership means that the Yakuza is facing a natural decline in manpower, further exacerbating their inability to recruit younger members and maintain their criminal influence.

What is Tokuro, and how does it relate to Gen Z?

Tokuro is a term for a new type of organized crime group that has emerged as a result of Gen Z's disinterest in the Yakuza. These groups are less hierarchical, more fluid, and operate primarily online, appealing to Gen Z's desire for flexibility and autonomy in their criminal endeavors.

How does Tokuro differ from the Yakuza in terms of structure and recruitment?

Tokuro groups are decentralized and operate through online platforms like encrypted messaging apps and social media. Members are recruited for specific tasks, often on an ad-hoc basis, which contrasts sharply with the Yakuza's strict hierarchy, lifelong loyalty, and long initiation processes.

What are the risks associated with joining Tokuro, and why should people avoid it?

Tokuro often targets young people with promises of quick money and low commitment. While it may seem appealing, joining these groups can lead to involvement in serious criminal activities, and members may find themselves trapped in a cycle of crime, with some groups using blackmail or threats to keep them in the game.