The Yakuza’s UNEXPECTED Role in Japan’s WORST EVER DISASTERS

Just days after the 2011 earthquake in Japan, news reports began surfacing in both Japanese and international media with a surprising claim: The descendants of Japan’s centuries-old crime syndicates were among the first to arrive in the devastated northeast. Hungry, cold, and frightened survivors were met with literal truckloads of supplies brought in by none other than the Yakuza. Especially to those unfamiliar with the long and complex history of these groups, the idea might seem downright bizarre. Why would hardened gangsters suddenly take on the role of humanitarians? I remember reading those articles when they first appeared online, long before I knew anything about the Yakuza… beyond the iconic tattoos and missing pinkies… and thinking the exact same thing! It felt like a paradox. Yet, there’s no denying the intrigue of the scenario: some of Japan’s most notorious and intimidating figures setting aside their criminal dealings to extend a helping hand. A real “faith in humanity restored” kind of moment. But is there more to this story than the headlines let on? While their actions were undeniably commendable and helped countless people, could there have been an ulterior motive behind the Yakuza’s sudden shift to altruism? This is the story of the Yakuza’s unexpected role in Japan’s worst ever disasters! #japan #yakuza #earthquake SOURCES: https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/22/wo... https://www.reuters.com/article/busin... https://www.thedailybeast.com/japanes... https://www.theguardian.com/world/201... https://www.news-postseven.com/archiv... https://www.alphapolis.co.jp/novel/25... https://cyzowoman.jp/2024/04/post_472... https://www.britannica.com/event/Japa... https://www.brookings.edu/articles/wh... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%... https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/day-20... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_H... https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_No... https://worldcrunch.com/culture-socie... CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 04:56 - 2011 Earthquake 08:54 - 1995 Earthquake 13:08 - Construction Contracts 14:42 - Fukushima Nuclear Disaster 17:19 - Ulterior Motive 18:49 - 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake 20:30 - Outro