The tragic (for law-abiding society) outcome of the evolution of the modern Japanese criminal underworld from traditional bands of service nomads might give Newsletter readers who are aware of the writings of Pickett (1970), Boles (1983), McLaughlin (1980), and others about some American Gypsies brief pause for thought, especially in view of what Kaplan and Dubro offer at the end of their book as "the raison d'etre" of organized crime. It is the historical and cultural context of the modern gangs, especially their roots in itinerancy and service nomadism, that recommends Yakusa for review in our GLS Newsletter. has already won the 1987 Investigative Reporters and Editors Award. The bakuto plied their trade along the busy highways and towns of medieval Japan, and the tekiya offered goods and services for sale at a multitude of markets, temples, and fairs … Alec Dubro are to be congratulated for this thorough effort to account for Japan's criminal underworld. He is former director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and served as chief investigative. The origins of Japan's contemporary mob is traced back in time to the livelihoods and lifestyles of itinerant roadside gamblers (bakuto) and street peddlers (tekiya). Kaplan is an investigative journalist based in Washington. This book is a well-researched journalistic investigative report (and expose) of the organized Japanese underworld. (My review of) Yakusa, authored by David E.
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