Yamaguchi-gumi

Yamaguchi-gumi (Japanese: 山口組) is Japan's largest and most famous yakuza organization.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Japan - Yakuza

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It is widely believed to be the largest criminal organization in the world. Estimates put the number of active members at just over 39,000, with thousands more having strong associations. It is, by far, the largest of the boryokudan groups, and its membership encompasses roughly 45% of the 87,000 yakuza in the Japanese underworld.

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The Yamaguchi-gumi are among the world's wealthiest gangsters, bringing in billions of dollars a year from extortion, gambling, the sex industry, guns, drugs, and real estate and construction kickback schemes. They are also involved in stock market manipulation and Internet pornography.

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The Yamaguchi-gumi has its headquarters in Kobe, Japan, but it operates all across Japan, and also has overseas operations in Asia and the United States. Despite more than a decade of police crackdowns, their numbers have been growing.

Related Topics:
Kobe - Asia - United States

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