Membership of Japan's yakuza crime gangs falls to all-time low

Police say number of people in organised crime syndicates fell below 60,000 for first time on record last year

Tougher policing, an increasingly poor public image and a slowing economy have made the lives of Japan's gangsters difficult, and made membership less attractive for potential recruits, experts said.

Stronger laws in recent decades have also made it tough for mobsters to raise money for their operations, and even pushed some senior members to leave their organisations, Japanese media have reported.

However, some may have defected to organisations less known to police.

According to Japan's police agency, the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's biggest crime group, lost 2,000 members from a year earlier with 25,700 gangsters on staff in 2013.

Its rival group the Sumiyoshi-kai, with 9,500 members, lost 1,100 members from a year before.

I really enjoy the highlighted line:  gangsters on staff in 2013.

It gives on the impression that these are just regular people working regular jobs.  One can just imagine the conversation.

 Yakuza: My I help you?

Customer:  Yes, I'm looking to extort money from my company. Can you give me some advice?

Yakuza: Yes. But you'll need to answer some questions first. Ok?

Customer: Fine.

Yakuza: What method of extortion are we looking at here. As we have several packages available at this time. 

There is the one time only extortion where we threaten to burn down their house if they don't pay up. 

Next is the 90 day package in which we become regular customers of said business insuring that everyone know's just who we are. You know the fear factor and who wants to associated with the Yakuza.

Finally there are several long term packages which are contingent upon your complete disgust or hatred of the business you are targeting.  Those would include aspects of the first two mentioned plus additional threats like breaking of legs, forcing their relatives to pay up and threatening to kidnap the dog.

Customer: Thanks for explaining what's available. Let me think about it and I'll contact you again in a couple days.

Yakuza: Great. We look forward to doing business with you.