Yakuza

The Yakuza originate from the Japanese islands, and to this day Japanese nationals and those of ethnic Japanese descent make up the majority of the members.

Scholars generally agree that the Yakuza can trace its ancestry to gangs of bakuto (gamblers) and tekiya (peddlers) from the 17th century, though Yakuza historians prefer to trace their organizations to the honorable machi-yokko, freelance soldiers who would protect towns. Probably there’s a bit of truth in both versions.

The traditional Yakuza see themselves as protectors of the common man, and they are organized criminals who benefit from cutting down on freelance crime.