The Strange World of Yakuza Fan Magazines By Jake Adelstein in Publishing Prepectives TOKYO: The Japanese mafia, better known as the yakuza, has been the subject of fan magazines for decades. These magazines serve as de-facto trade periodicals for a world of vicious, autocratic thugs, men who are handy with swords and guns, sport full-body tattoos, deal in illegal contraband and laundered money, and rip off the general public; all the while funneling money and power to their families and kigyoshatei (corporate blood brothers). What may be even more surprising is how easy the yakuza fan magazines are to find: they are readily available at newsstands, convenience stores, bookstores, public libraries and even some government offices. (read on ...)

Bonus Material: Be Nice to the Yakuza, Or Else By Jake Adelstein So, you want to become a Gokudokisha 極道記者, or rather, a journalist who writes about the yakuza? Then you should now there are some unwritten rules you will be expected to follow. 1) No writing about ongoing criminal ventures or front companies. 2) When writing about yakuza arrested for extortion, assault and other crimes, the tone must be neutral. (read on ...)