Another in the series of strange stories from around the world, ones that could make you shake your head in wonder and mutter ‘silly sods’ under your breath.
Japan’s yakuza gangs get online as they seek reversal in fortunes
Visitors to a new website from Japan’s League to Banish Drugs and Cleanse the Nation will find a set of predictably wholesome messages: amphetamine abuse is bad; punishing dealers and protecting young people is good. One problem: the site is an undisguised effort to rebrand the county’s biggest yakuza crime gang.
The Kobe-based Yamaguchi-gumi launched the site this week, complete with pictures of cherry blossom and a folk-song-backed video of its leader visiting a shrine. The song extols the virtue of ninkyo, a traditional – many would say mythical – yakuza duty to behave chivalrously and defend the weak.http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e6d3cb1c-bbc6-11e3-84f1-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2z5OPoaAt
Can’t wait to see the Cosa Nostra’s recruiting advert – maybe it will look like The Godfather…?
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April 16, 2014 at 10:46 pm