The Yakuza are organized crime syndicates in Japan that have been around for centuries. They are known for being very secretive and working within their own hierarchies and territories. But do different Yakuza families ever work together on criminal enterprises?
Brief history of the Yakuza
The Yakuza trace their origins back to feudal Japan and groups of Ronin (masterless samurai). They started out providing protection and services to communities before evolving into more organized criminal entities. The Yakuza really emerged in the 17th century and became increasingly structured and influential in the following centuries.
There are several major Yakuza syndicates active today, including the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai. These groups have tens of thousands of members between them. They often operate through affiliate gangs with loyalty to the main family leadership.
Strict code and hierarchy
The Yakuza have a very rigid organizational structure and code of conduct. There is a strong emphasis on hierarchy, honor, and loyalty within each family. Yakuza members pledge allegiance to a single boss or oyabun and must obey their orders dutifully. This hierarchy goes all the way up through various ranks like wakagashira and shatei.
Relationships between Yakuza members are like those between parent and child or elder and younger sibling. The rigid structure serves to maintain order and discipline within the criminal organization.
Territorial divisions
Yakuza syndicates divide up territories between different families. Each group claims part of a city or region as their turf for criminal activities. They mediate any disputes over territories between gangs under their control.
For example, the Yamaguchi-gumi is dominant in regions like Kobe, while the Sumiyoshi-kai control parts of Tokyo. This reduces friction between rival groups. Direct conflicts over territory are rare today compared to decades past.
Cooperation between families
The strict code of loyalty and allegiance within Yakuza families makes it difficult for collaboration across groups. However, there are some instances of different families working together for mutual interest or profit.
One area of cooperation is in dealing with disruptive street gangs. If a non-Yakuza gang stirs up trouble or engages in violence in a city, Yakuza families have been known to ally temporarily to solve the problem. Their priority is maintaining overall order and control.
Yakuza groups may also coordinate on larger scale criminal enterprises like drug trafficking, extortion rackets, or fraud schemes. This kind of cooperation is rarer and done discreetly to avoid attracting unnecessary attention from law enforcement.
Alliances through subsidiary gangs
More commonly, Yakuza families collaborate indirectly through their affiliate gangs. These subsidiary groups give the major organizations some separation. Yet the gangs still coordinate on criminal activities under the direction of their parent groups.
For instance, the Inagawa-kai and Sumiyoshi-kai have used their gangs to jointly run illegal gambling dens in Tokyo. Profits are passed up the chain to the core leadership. So cooperation happens without the top bosses interacting directly.
Shared political objectives
There are also cases of Yakuza groups coming together to influence politics or push back against government pressure. They aim to preserve their existence and protect their rackets from law enforcement crackdowns.
In 2012, the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai are believed to have formed a rare alliance. They collaborated to collect thousands of signatures against proposed anti-gang laws.
Alliances through intergroup marriages
Another way Yakuza families strengthen ties is by arranging marriages between members of different groups. These intergroup marriages serve to build trust and smooth relations between rival syndicates.
Marriages are typically arranged between high-ranking members or heirs being groomed for leadership roles. For example, the grandson of the former Inagawa-kai boss married the niece of the Yamaguchi-gumi leader in 2010.
These bonds through marriage make open conflicts less likely. Their children also create blood relations across groups.
Reasons for limited cooperation
Despite occasional collaboration, outright alliances between Yakuza groups are fairly limited in scope and duration. Some key reasons for this include:
Mistrust and rivalry
There is an innate wariness and mistrust between different Yakuza families. Each group is fiercely protective of its interests and quick to suspect ulterior motives. They are also constantly vying for more power and undermining each other.
Secrecy and autonomy
Yakuza groups operate in secrecy and value autonomy. Long-term partnerships mean sacrificing secrecy and relying on outsiders. So they prefer to keep collaboration brief and focused only when absolutely necessary.
Violent splits
When alliances do happen, they can actually increase the chance of future conflict. Joint ventures give groups knowledge about each other—weaponry, members, rackets—that can fuel disputes if the relationship turns sour.
Several violent gang wars have erupted following failed cooperative deals. A among Yamaguchi-gumi factions in the early 2000s came after a failed business deal with the Sumiyoshi-kai.
Police targeting of alliances
Law enforcement agencies also closely monitor any significant Yakuza collaborations. Teaming up makes the groups more vulnerable to being targeted by police anti-gang operations. So alliances also risk unwanted attention and crackdowns.
Conclusion
While not completely nonexistent, outright alliances between Yakuza families are fairly uncommon and limited in scope. Each syndicate prefers operating solo within its own territory and hierarchy. Their secretive nature, rivalry, and risk of attracting police attention keeps most collaborations brief or indirect. But the groups do coordinate in the background when it aligns with mutual interests.