Japan’s yakuza are disappearing —but organized crime here isn’t. Once feared and oddly tolerated, they are now in rapid decline —with membership dropping to historic lows. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at the sharp decline in yakuza membership and what’s taking their place: encrypted apps, “yami baito” scams and loosely organized “tokuryu” groups. We also explore how these changes still affect Japanese society — from tattoo bans at gyms and onsen to front businesses and digit

The last Yakuza: A life in the Japanese underworld, with investigative journalist Jake Adelstein

10 Notorious Crimes Committed by the Yakuza