The Yakuza -

: Numbers have dropped from 180,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 25,000 today. The Future of the Syndicate

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Yakuza transitioned from street crime to high-level white-collar activity. The Yakuza

: The "Sokaiya" practice of extorting corporations by threatening to disrupt shareholder meetings. The Turning Point: Anti-Gang Legislation : Numbers have dropped from 180,000 in the

: Gamblers who operated in the shadows of highways and towns. : Numbers have dropped from 180

The foundations of the Yakuza trace back to the Edo period (1603–1868). They emerged primarily from two distinct groups: the Tekiya and the Bakuto.

: Internal conflicts have led to the breakdown of major groups like the Yamaguchi-gumi.