In the Yakuza 8, the treatment of former yakuza member (ex-yakuza) became the theme, and some players would probably doubt that is it possible for ex-yakuza to become an ordinally person (カタギ)? In this guide, I will write about the reality.

1. The barrier to opening a bank account

They mentioned this topic during the game, the ex-yakuza could not open a bank account for 5 years. It is easy to imagine that this obstacle prevents them from returning to the society. For instance, contracting a smartphone is vital in the modern world, and having an account is essential for the procedure. Without it, there are many disadvantages. In Japan, if customers do not have troubles such as criminal records, they can easily open a bank account. People view individuals without a bank account as criminals, and this significantly affects the ex-yakuza. Besides this, it is also possible to extend the deadline by over 5 years, and it is a de facto death sentence for ex-yakuza. It [www.tokyo-np.co.jp]exemplifies a lawsuit against the nation. However, it is very vague the accurate numbers which were finally led to open the account. In 2023, only 8 members[news.yahoo.co.jp] in Japan can reach the goal, making it nearly impossible for the others.

2. The personality of ex-yakuza

If the ex-yakuza could manage many problems in daily lives, including a bank account which aforementioned, the index appears as a problem. It is not uncommon to see that people who have troubles in their lives such as social, educational, environmental, and so on often go on the road to Yakuza in Japan. Thus, after quitting the groups, the former yakuza members must fit into the society with which is not unfamiliar, and it frequently causes problems. For example, the discrimination that occurred in their pasts is common, and the lack of education limits their job search. These factors sometimes cause ex-yakuza to veer off the “right” path. People’s efforts to assist them are insufficient.

The following movie is the example of it.

3. There is no regulation to become an ordinally person (カタギ) in Japan.

As the title suggested, it affects the ex-yakuza until their death. As mentioned above, the bank may deny opening the account even if the member clear the 5 years rule, and the police always pay attention to them because they are fake withdrawals from the groups which are probably the reasons to have the regulation to become ordinally person in the law. If the police leaves the fake withdrawals, it will certainly lead to the crimes, so they have strong rules.
Therefore, some media sometimes argue the problems of former yakuza members who have to use the welfare of the local or national governments because of the poverty which is caused by the regulation. In the Like a dragon Gaiden, there was a scene which the yakuza used the people to take the benefit of welfare, but in the modern Japan, they may become the victims like in the game. It is the example [shueisha.online]of this problem.
The law, Act on Prevention of Unjust Acts by Organized Crime Group Members (暴力団対策法), which is usually called as Anti-Boryokudan Act, causes problems more or less, but it is as Yakuza row as they reap. Yakuza held tremendous power prior to the law being registered, as the United States was paying attention to them, such as the Mafia in Italy. Like in the Yakuza 0, yakuza rampaged Japan as they wanted, and there were little regulations to stop them, so the police disgusted it, but Anti-Boryokudan Act changed the power completely.

I do not argue the validity of the law in this article, but it could be said that, as the game showed, the Japanese police strongly desire to stop and weaken the Yakuza.

In conclusion, it is almost impossible for ex-yakuza to become an ordinally person in Japan because of the Anti-Boryokudan Act. The law is the earnest desire of the police, but it is ironic to affect the former members who want to cut ties with the group.