A screenshot of the Anton Kusters’ commentary and photos on Yakuza (Video below) |
Staff correspondent, September 23, 2015
Yakuza gangs, which run Japan's underworld, form one of the most secretive crime syndicates of the world.
Belgian photographer Anton Kusters spent two years filming a prominent Yakuza family. He managed to get access after reaching out to them for ten months. When he spoke to the Yakuza God Father with his request, the senior in the middle in the picture above, the amused man agreed.
Over time, they accepted Anton Kusters so much that they called him to film when a senior member died, giving him access to a rarely seen gathering of the Japanese underworld.
So, what did Anton Kusters find out? These are no blood thirsty teenage gangs. They rely more on hierarchy, pressure and control than actual violence to run their criminal enterprise.
Yakuza gangs, which run Japan's underworld, form one of the most secretive crime syndicates of the world.
Belgian photographer Anton Kusters spent two years filming a prominent Yakuza family. He managed to get access after reaching out to them for ten months. When he spoke to the Yakuza God Father with his request, the senior in the middle in the picture above, the amused man agreed.
Over time, they accepted Anton Kusters so much that they called him to film when a senior member died, giving him access to a rarely seen gathering of the Japanese underworld.
So, what did Anton Kusters find out? These are no blood thirsty teenage gangs. They rely more on hierarchy, pressure and control than actual violence to run their criminal enterprise.