The Downfall of the Yakuza

The once-feared Japanese mob is on the verge of extinction. Targeted by new laws, rapidly ageing, and unable to find fresh blood, the yakuza has dropped from a height of 180,000 members to less than 30,000. But for some, a life of crime isn’t something you can just leave behind. In this episode of VIOLENT TIMES, Mahmood Fazal travels to Japan to meet with former and current members of the yakuza to understand what happens to those who try to leave, and what is keeping others firmly entrenched in a world of tattoos, honor, and blood. *Additional Imagery courtesy Kwon Choul