Confessions of a Yakuza: A Life in Japan's Underworld

It may sound odd that I use the word honor in the context of a gangster which is exactly what the yakuza were and are, but the man profiled here is completely old school in all its best connotations. Essentially, the background concerns a very old man about to die who tells his story to the random doctor who happens to examine him. The interviews are conducted over a series of weeks and they occur at the yakuza's home. To say that he lived in interesting times is definitely an understatement. Most of the action occurs before World War II, and, in those days, being a yakuza meant only running gambling houses. To do anything else was beneath them. One can see why the police were rather tolerant in regards to their general operations in light of this eventuality. The man described here eventually became the head of a local branch of the brotherhood, but the stories of his rise and his ever-so-complicated interactions with women were what most impressed this reviewer. This was a pretty fantastic read, and its value is all the greater should you be rather ignorant about Japan (as was the case with this reviewer).

This book is a "memoir" of sorts, a biographical tale of a retired yakuza as dictated to his doctor. This man is a "yakuza" in the word's original sense--a professional gambler, not the organized gangsters that the word is used to refer to today. The ex-yakuza in this story, as he tells his tale over the months, knows he is slowly dying. He starts to see the doctor, a general practitioner in a quiet suburban neighborhood, when he realizes that is body is really starting to fall apart. His doctor knows the man's in a bad way, but he replies with optimistic predictions when his patient asks things like, "I don't have much time left, do I?" Over several visits, the doctor realizes what a hard and amazing life the man has led. He asks to interview him for a book, and the yazuka agrees. The doctor then deals with a range of emotions: a desire even he doesn't understand to record the man's tale and tell it to the world, a sense of urgency due to his knowledge of the man's health, and an awareness of the need not to pester the old man with daily visits and long interviews. (This hesitance may arise from a healthy respect for the still-formidable old man.) Anyone looking for graphically violent and prurient tales about modern-day Japanese gangsters robbing banks and shooting at each other will be greatly disappointed--although there is some violence. The most fascinating aspect of this novel is its portrayal of how people interacted with each other so much differently back then--ways we would consider cryptic today, hiding their emotions, putting up with insults, acting with almost subservient humility to save face for their companions or organization. Putting on a brave face when faced with amazing adversity. (Plus, even though this book is a translation, you'd never know it. The translation is seamless, and written in a style that's perfect for the story. Also, the translator is British, so while reading this, try to imagine someone like Bob Hoskins speaking in a tough-guy Cockney accent.) An interesting aspect of the book that is interspersed among the remembrances and also propelling them along are brief passages that describe the situation in which a particular day's interview was conducted--for instance, whether the ex-gambler was in good spirits that day, whether his wife was in the room, whether it was late at night. The book is also fascinating for its portrayal of the reality and inevitability of getting old. There are sharp contrasts between the young man's boundless courage and energy and the old man's labored breathing and creaky joints. Finally, what's touching about the story two men's shared desire to get his story recorded and told. The doctor told his patient right from the outset that the reason for the interviews was to write a book about them. So many of the old man's acquaintances were dead, and he didn't seem the type to want to impress people anyway, that it's unlikely that fame or recognition were his motivations. The

This book painted a totally different, from how it is traditionally in movies and books, picture of yakuza world, at least how it was before World War II. I understand that things changed since but I didn't know that originally yakuza was all about gambling. The book consists of the memories of old yakuza that do not necessarily represent logically completed story but rather various pieces, hystorical and personal, that together show the atmosphere in Japan at that time period. Quite unique book.

The story is very deep and emotional, and the writing is of a wonderful style. I enjoyed this book for the look into the past of Nippon-shoto's criminal organizations, and for the grace with which the author tackled difficult issues.The life of the hero is both interesting, and strangely depressing. He seems to show a lot of regret for his actions - and yet no effort was made in his confessing to cover them up.The title fits quite well, also - it is just that, the confessions of a true Yakuza. While today, people think of pop culture portrayals of Yakuza as gunslinging, tourist-murdering hooligans, this sheds light on what Yakuza are traditionally.-Kana

I greatly enjoyed this book: it is candid and fascinating. The life of a pre-WWII gangster in Tokyo centered around gambling operations, which the doctor/author introduces to the reader through the biography of one hardened patient from a different era.Yakuza of today have far less couth than the book's subject, which contrast makes the story that much more compelling.I particularly like the subject's disregard for a life of privileged ease, instead embracing the adventurous life offered by the Japanese underworld.Apparently Bob Dylan cited the book on an album; Bob aside, the book is tremendously fun to read.