The Yakuza is an organized crime network of Japanese origin which is now worldwide.  The Yakuza is a gigantic organized crime syndicate that has operated in and around Japan for hundreds of years. It has been one of the most powerful organizations on since the late 18th century, and its members are both respected and feared by the populace.  Originally from Japan in the 2020s the organization reached out and have been established worldwide.

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The word "Yakuza" comes from Sammai Karuta, a Japanese gambling game. In which getting 19 points is the ideal. If you drew the number 20 which was Eight (Ya), Nine (Ku), and Three (Za), it was called "good for nothing".

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The Yakuza has spread globally as successfully as the Japanese corporations.  In the Yakuza there are only two paths, death or prison.  They are among the most violent of all organized crime groups and possibly the most widespread.  It has a larger membership than the Mafia.  They are based in the Osaka region back in Japan.  Due to extensive infiltration of the local police in Japan by the Yakuza, the National Police Agency (Japan's FBI) has been unable to crack the Yakuza which is made worse by the pressure placed on the overworked police by the Yakuza-influenced Osaka corporations.

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It is involved in a wide variety of criminal activities, from smuggling to gambling, the drug trade to prostitution, and so on.  Unlike the Triads who invest a large part of their profits back into the community, the Yakuza like the Sudams and some of the Mafia organizations shows no concern for its community and is concerned only about making money.

 

Originally the territory in New Orleans was held by the Triad, 13k Dragons, however, 13k lost a turf war which resulted in their members returning to Hong Kong or being absorbed or executed by Wanibuchi-Rengo.  The Wanibuchi-Rengo has held Little Asia, since 2070.

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The Wanibuchi-rengo is one of the youngest and most modern Yakuza factions. It's stronghold is in Tokyo, Japan, and is led by Tomu Wanibuchi.  He sits at the head of a board of directors, where the head of each gumi gets a vote, making him first among equals.  Unlike the other clans and families, this rengo acts as one.

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The organization actively recruits from New Orleans's disenfranchised, including women, Half-damned, Hunters, and other Shen (supernatural beings).  They even have a few kindred and Hengeyokai (shapeshifters/Werewolves).  Wanibuchi-rengo controls the augmented reality crime in New Orleans, creates and distributes Brain Dance programs, and has an extensive criminal empire on the Net (offshore online casinos, virtual sex clubs, data brokerage, virtual banks, and selling of bootleg copies of Brain dance tech and programs).

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Gumi and Kai Associated with Wanibuchi-Rengo:

• Wanibuchi-Gumi (NPC Clan)

  • It's a very progressive Yakuza syndicate, a follower of the New Way and also the smallest clan in Tokyo. The organization actively recruits from the disenfranchised; women, Half-damned, Hunters, and other Shen (supernatural beings).  It has gone into Cyber crime in a big way, the first among the Yakuza clans.

  • The Wanibuchi are a member syndicate of the Wanibuchi-rengo, and are a prominent clan in Japan.

• Inagawa-Kai (NPC Clan)

  • The Inagawa-kai was one of the factions which split from Watada-Rengo in 2070. It's stronghold is in Harajuku, Tokyo. The syndicate has heavily recruited among Shen to such an extent its considered to a Shen clan by the other Yakuza, but it's structure continues to be traditional.

  • Their main criminal operations are protection rackets and street-level sokaiya (extortion of corporations).

  • Unlike the other Yakuza syndicates, it uses mostly ninja in operations against rival groups, and it's in-house hitters are all trained as ninja. It's one of the prominent Yakuza clans, and is a member of the Wanibuchi-rengo.

• Azakaze-Kai (Player-Made Clan)

  • Azakaze Kai is mainly composed of the remnants of the 13k Triad who were not killed in the Turf War, or fled New Orleans.  They are the newest Kai to join the Wanibuchi-Rengo. Much of these Still face mild scrutiny from other members, but others have adjusted to the "New Management."

  • Their major criminal enterprises are based around Gambling and Human Trafficking.

  • While the rest of the Rengo doesn't show much concern for the community, Azakazi-Kai is very involved with the security and well being of Little Asia. They have made Little Asia their stronghold, and have a shakey alliance with the Tiger Claws.