Japan’s Yakuza are infamous as one of the world’s most notorious crime syndicates. While their modern identity is a fascinating mix of style and violence, they see themselves as the cultural descendants of samurai. Speaking to Mahmood Fazal in Japan, they present as public servants who are proud of their sense of history, community, and loyalty.

But it’s a perception the rest of Japan doesn’t share. In recent years, criticism has become more vocal with many insisting they represents the worst of the country. This has resulted in a surreal public relations crisis, and lead to struggles in recruiting new members.

Today the Yakuza face an uncertain future as their numbers dwindle, government intervention threatens business, and wider Japanese society continues to isolate them.

In this episode we learn that despite all this, they’re still proud of their past and future—and the violence woven through both.

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