Viz Media has released a preview of the steamy Shoujo Beat romance manga Yakuza Lover by Nozomi Mino. "Shojo" means "young girls" in Japanese, and Shojo Beat is the premier Japanese manga anthology ... Yakuza (Japanese: ヤクザ; IPA: [jaꜜkɯ (d)za]; English: / jəˈkuːzə, ˈjækuːzə /), also known as gokudō (極道; "the extreme path", IPA: [gokɯꜜdoː]), or simply the Japanese mafia, are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan.

Understanding the Context

Yakuza, also known as Like a Dragon (Japanese: 龍が如く, Hepburn: Ryū ga Gotoku), is a video game series and media franchise created by Toshihiro Nagoshi for Sega. It incorporates elements of the action-adventure, beat 'em up, and role-playing genres. In Japan and elsewhere, especially in the West, the term yakuza can be used to refer to individual gangsters or criminals as well as to their organized groups and to Japanese organized crime in general. Yakuza adopt samurai -like rituals and often bear elaborate body tattoos.

Key Insights

Many people are probably intrigued by the idea of the Yakuza, also known as the Japanese mafia. In a country where rules are golden, subservience is rewarded, and violence is highly censored, it’s hard to imagine that its underground (and even above ground!) scenes are rife with gangster activity. Yakuza Facts - 10 Things You Did Not Know About Japanese Mafia Known informally as the Japanese mafia, the Yakuza are a 400-year-old criminal syndicate that carries out everything from human trafficking to real estate sales. When people hear the word "Yakuza," they often imagine a violent criminal organization. However, their existence extends beyond mere crime; they are also deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture.

Final Thoughts