Japan yakuza membership hits record low amid rise of anonymous groups

The number of yakuza members and associates in Japan fell to a record low of 18,800 at the end of last year amid a rise in anonymous, ad hoc criminal groups, National Police Agency data showed Thursday.Membership fell below 20,000 for the first time since records began in 1958, as the number of organized crime members has been steadily declining since 2005 amid strict crackdowns.The revelation comes as the agency data also showed that 10,105 members of anonymous, ad hoc criminal groups known as "tokuryu" were investigated for profit-motivated crimes in 2024, with authorities struggling to c…READ FULL ARTICLE