Female face of the Yakuza, or That you didn't know about the Japanese mafia

Everyone knows that members of the Japanese mafia Yakuza clans — a harsh, ruthless men, capable of anything. And about women of the Yakuza is almost no one heard. Moreover, modest and feminine Japanese women are not associated with crime and cruelty. Meanwhile, in the history of the Japanese mafia, the fair sex has always been and, moreover, they are a special caste within the criminal clans.

The first Yakuza was not dashing murderers from the main road, but quiet poker cheats. In Japan, the Middle ages card fraud women were equal to men, and a group of gamblers professionals often headed by a woman — Onna-oyabun.

Later, when crime became less specialized, the power of criminal groups passed into the hands of men. In Patriarchal Japan, no one had thought that the lady will be able to lead a gang of thugs with swords, daggers and batons.

But there were moments when the women were forced to take the reins into their own hands and, to be fair, they've done pretty well with this task. Most often it was difficult for the country or syndicate times.

After the Second World war, when the country was in deep economic and political crisis in big cities like mushrooms after the rain began to rise, "black" markets. In Tokyo, the most popular shopping district of Shimbashi, controlled by the clan of the Matsuda-Gumi. Headed this powerful group Dici Matsuda — the man strong and cruel.

To give to understand, how feel confident fighters Matsuda in your area, it is worth mentioning the "Incident Shibuya". A Grand battle between the Yakuza of the Matsuda-Gumi, a gang of immigrants from Taiwan, was right opposite the police station. Each side was attended by several hundred men, armed with firearms and machetes. Killed 7 and injured 34 Taiwanese, and besides, killed a policeman.

Despite the enormous authority in post-war Tokyo, the Matsuda was soon killed, and the syndicate was headed by Yoshiko Matsuda — his wife. Female oabona, kept a tight rein over 2 thousand militants and kept in fear Shimbashi not worse late husband. Thanks to the cruelty of this woman, Yakuza and entered the history of the criminal underworld of Japan.

The complete opposite of Yoshiko was Fumiko Taoka, eight years headed the most powerful syndicate in the country — Yamaguchi-Gumi. Regarding the role of women in this group opinions are divided — some researchers tend to believe that Fumiko was not oabona, and was just doing his duty when the leader was serving time in prison.

Kazuo Taoka

But, whatever it was, when the boss of Yamaguchi-Gumi, Kazuo Taoka, in 1981, died of a more suitable candidates for the position of acting oabona than his wife, was not found. Trust gangsters, this is a middle-aged woman won't dashing deeds and exemplary executions, and devotion to her husband, with whom she shared the joys and sorrows long 35 years.

For the members of the syndicate Fumiko Taoka was a model of the ideal woman of the Yakuza and an example of devotion to the family. Discretion, an iron will and authority allowed this woman to solve the most serious problems, avoiding senseless violence.

The statistics of search queries in Japan shows that the most popular search phrase girls looking for a boyfriend, is "how do I become a wife of a Yakuza." The reason for this is the books written by the wives of the mafia leaders and romanticizing the image of a member of a criminal syndicate.

Luxurious, not devoid of dangers, but so enticing and different from the usual, life beckons young women who often find her "hero" and go marry him at a very young age. Most often the wife of a Yakuza to become teenage girls from dysfunctional families, or girls who grew up in high crime areas of large cities and from childhood was watching the lives of criminals.

Friends and just curious in this case, a beautiful legend about that guy that the girl fell in love with happened to be a Yakuza. This is almost always true. The specifics of Japanese organized crime is that all-around excellent know — what company is owned by the Yakuza, where the head office of the local group and even how divided the spheres of influence and the area.

Interestingly, usually it is crucial not a financial issue — among the wives of the Yakuza, a lot of girls from very wealthy families. The bigger issue is a matter of prestige to be a companion, a dashing guy who respect and fear all around, very tempting.

Do not assume that becoming the wife of the Yakuza, a woman becomes a member of a criminal gang. The Yakuza is exclusively a male occupation, women near the gangsters have no position in the syndicate and not defined by law. Wives of the Yakuza do not participate in criminal activities, but they are still part of the criminal world, and therefore do not fit into the norms of modern Japanese society.

A circle of wives of members of the syndicate is very limited. It includes the same wife, and girlfriend and mistress of the other members of the group. Beyond this world these women are not accepted and they are forced to live in isolation. These circumstances have led to the emergence of a special subculture, with its own hierarchy, the position of which depends on the authority of the husband in a criminal group.

Within their community, the women of the Yakuza is their duty, and the entry in the "family" is accompanied by a special ceremony — the sakazuki. Have the ladies of the syndicate and their special irezumi tattoos, which cover almost the whole body.

By the way, tattoo women, Yakuza symbolize full samootverjennosti in front of her husband and readiness to endure any hardship and any pain. Irezumi is performed manually, and often the process is delayed for several years. We believe these artfully "painted" girls interesting and attractive, but for the average Japanese tattoos is a sign of a criminal and a social outcast.

Before the Second World war irezumi were outlawed and the person covered with drawings body was deprived of many opportunities and treats. Despite the fact that in the late 40‑ies of the tattoo Yakuza legalized, there are still places where their owners ordered the way. Therefore, in ordinary life, the Yakuza don't flaunt their "paintings" and try to hide them under clothes. Fully applies to it and women associated with gangs.

For women isolated in their small social group, her man is the only joy and, of course, she tries it all to please. It so happens that the wife of Junior mafia — chinery runs and provides not only the husband, odd criminal jobs, but also his family.

To work a woman can own desire and compulsion. Among the Yakuza normal work is not held in high esteem, and the wife, so may be the only breadwinner of the family. In the underworld borekudan rarely think about the interests of women, considering that their goal is the satisfaction of men.

Mobsters having a high status often changes mistresses, and a decisive selection criterion is usually young and attractive. But even the most beautiful and favored by the attention the girl does not have voting rights in the syndicate. She can not count on any share of the spoil generated from criminal activities, even if she was in it.

The wife of oabona more comfortable, but in fact no different from women's lives less senior members of the clan. A woman can have an expensive car with a chauffeur, jewels and property, but in the gang she is not, though often owns extensive information about the Affairs of the syndicate.

To the wives of the bosses of criminal gangs made contact ane-San "big sister". The main function of these women is to support her husband in all things, solving small problems in the families of members of the syndicate and of course, parenting. In the environment of the Yakuza is not accepted to have offspring — all efforts are borne by their wives. Many women who have lived a certain time within the clan, striving to give their children a good education and a prestigious education, so that, when he grew up, were not included in the crime ring borekudan.