The dark masters of Kabuki

Abstract

At the break of dawn, the earth began to tremble—and 20 short seconds later thousands of people lay dead or dying in the rubble of their homes. It was 17 January 1995 and the Japanese port city of Kobe, or ‘Heaven’s Door’, had been struck by the most powerful force of nature to hit Japan since the Kan to earthquake in 1923. Homes, shopping centres, office blocks, railway stations, and even elevated expressways which the authorities had assured would withstand any earthquake, collapsed as if they had been built from paper and sticks.

In the winter we give the sunny half of the street to common people because we survive on their work. In the summer we yakuza walk on the sunny side, to give them the cool, shaded half. If you look at our actions, you can see our strong commitment to giri-ninjo [obligation and loyalty].

—The late Shotaro Hayashi, a top boss of the Sumiyoshi-kai in Tokyo¹

Neither logic nor money can control a self-willed gangster. But by brandishing the supreme and irrational principle of the ‘fatherhood’ of the boss, the organisation can make members submit to anything.

—Japanese lawyer²