Current Events > Yakuza vs the Italian Mafia, who would win?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Had this discussion with my coworkers and they argued that the Yakuza would win, based on the reasoning that they're a more sophisticated crime syndicate. I have a soft spot for the Italian Mafia though--being a God Father/Soprano fan.

I have this visual of Al Pacino with his machine gun going "say helloooo to my little friend" as he rambos into enemy territory.

Nowadays, the Yakuza are all about showing their flashy Lambos.

Trumpo posted...

Nowadays, the Yakuza are all about showing their flashy Lambos.

I thought they drove Rolls Royces.

I dont think you can compare them. Yakuza literally have hands in the Japanese government in a way. There definitely are scummy aspects of it, but they both deal with the existence of each other.

Italian mafia is just organized crime right? I've seen some of Sopranos and they also buy off police ect. I wouldnt think it's on the level of Yakuza though. The Yakuza are literally accepted by parts of the community in certain places.

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Also forgot that some of the entertainment industry, music, idol ect I've heard are Yakuza owned. Especially some gravure and porn sectors.

Edit: Add bars, gift shops, gambling areas ect.

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VSLwEIp15_4
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QyouLW76qOc

the yakuza makes everyone have blurry genitals

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Which Mafia?
La Cosa Nostra, Camorra, or Ndrangheta

My say is the Italian Mafia due to their global connections. They have contacts all over the world with Cartels in Mexico and Columbia and influence in numerous European countries and and in The US and Canada

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ShineboxPhil posted...

Which Mafia?
La Cosa Nostra, Camorra, or Ndrangheta

My say is the Italian Mafia due to their global connections. They have contacts all over the world with Cartels in Mexico and Columbia and influence in numerous European countries and and in The US and Canada

But arent these all different groups? Do they usually pull together as one entity or are they spread out as their own thing?

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SpiritSephiroth posted...

But arent these all different groups? Do they usually pull together as one entity or are they spread out as their own thing?

They're separate from different regions of Italy but do associate with eachother.
La Cosa Nostra is from Sicily
Ndrangheta are Calabrian
Camorra are from Campania

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Trumpo posted...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VSLwEIp15_4
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QyouLW76qOc

Is he really Yakuza? He seems more like a race car enthusiast if anything, with ties to underground racing competitions.
SpiritSephiroth posted...

I dont think you can compare them. Yakuza literally have hands in the Japanese government in a way. There definitely are scummy aspects of it, but they both deal with the existence of each other.

Italian mafia is just organized crime right? I've seen some of Sopranos and they also buy off police ect. I wouldnt think it's on the level of Yakuza though. The Yakuza are literally accepted by parts of the community in certain places.

Wow, you see I had no idea. There's just so little western media portrayal of them, I really don't know. The closest thing I've seen that's a representation of Japanese Mafia was an anime called Tokyo Revengers. Wish there was a movie or tv series I can watch to get a better idea. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share.

Yakuza have Goro Majima and Kiryu-chan.

No contest.

Yakuza don't really have many guns compared to the mafia do they

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insomniacRA posted...

Wow, you see I had no idea. There's just so little western media portrayal of them, I really don't know. The closest thing I've seen that's a representation of Japanese Mafia was an anime called Tokyo Revengers. Wish there was a movie or tv series I can watch to get a better idea. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share.

The Yakuza games are a good indication of how they work. While they are overexagerrated, the respect, authority and their how their clans work and beliefs are shown to be pretty accurate in them.

Other than that I just watched a lot of documentaries. I know recently the old guard have been dying out to new breed who are much less respectful of civilians and others, and that the Yakuza is losing more of its influence, for now that is.


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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XRIsHRHNU5k

Smackems posted...

Yakuza don't really have many guns compared to the mafia do they

Guns are a big no no in Japan in general so nope.

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The general japanese public don't want anything to with Yakuza as far as I've heard. Anyone that has a openly visible tattoo gets discriminated and assume to have ties with them.

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Arcanine2009 posted...

The general japanese public don't want anything to with Yakuza as far as I've heard. Anyone that has a openly visible tattoo gets discriminated and assume to have ties with them.

Yeah this as well. People aren't allowed in certain places if you have a tattoo. That goes for foreigners too. However some communities have learnt to live with them..

Theres also been situations where the Yakuza have outright helped the public. Like in natural disasters.

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Italian mafia like New york/Boston/Florida type thing or mafia in Italy itself?

Second one would easy take out Yakuza. They used to bomb friggin police cars. Look up the Capaci Massacre

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