Japan police seek to stop mobsters throwing annual Halloween parties for children
Youngsters who turn up in costume near gang's fortified headquarters are showered with sweets and gifts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is one of the world’s largest underworld organisations, explicitly involved with extortion, arms dealing, drug trafficking, extreme violence and online pornography.
But police in Japan say the country’s 100-year-old Yamaguchi-gumi gang has now gone too far – after branching out into throwing annual Halloween parties for children.
The deadly yakuza gang has hosted the yearly extravaganza close to its fortified headquarters in the city of Kobe since 2013. Youngsters who arrive in costume are given sweets, gifts and money.
But worried police have now submitted a bill to the region’s Hyogo Prefectural Assembly proposing members of Yamaguchi-gumi be banned from showering such presents on anyone under the age of 18.
It comes after city officials grew increasingly concerned the October parties were being used as a way to both falsely soften the image of the ruthless mob and attract young members into its 9,000-strong ranks.
If passed, the bill would also mean gang members were not allowed to let children on to their premises or make contact with them in any other way, according to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
Anyone breaking the new law would face up to six months in prison or a fine of 500,000 yen (£3,700) .
Although similar events were cancelled last year and in 2015 on public safety grounds, local education authorities have been reluctant to warn schoolchildren not to attend – out of an apparent consideration for students whose parents have links with the mob.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments