Latest update: 19/06/2012 

- Japan - mafia - organised crime


Times getting tough for Japan's Yakuza

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Japan's yakuza, whose members are known for cutting off their little fingers to atone for acts of disloyalty and mistakes, have long been active in gambling, loan sharking and money-laundering. In their golden age after World War II they even had significant influence within certain political spheres. But times are getting tougher for Japan's estimated 80,000 yakuza members: for the past decade they've been increasingly feeling the strain of a weakened economy and increased repression.

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By Guillaume BRESSION / Marie LINTON
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