Introduction
For decades, Japan’s underworld was synonymous with the yakuza, a structured network of crime syndicates like the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai. These organizations operated openly, with known headquarters, business cards, and a twisted code of honor. But in recent years, the yakuza’s influence has been declining sharply due to strict anti-gang laws, social isolation, and increased police pressure. In their place, a new, more elusive criminal element is emerging — one that Japanese law enforcement and media are beginning to refer to as “Tokuryū” (特流 / 特竜).
What Is “Tokuryū”?
The term Tokuryū does not refer to a specific gang or syndicate. Rather, it is a descriptive label increasingly used by Japanese authorities to refer to new, loosely organized, and often youth-driven crime networks that operate in the shadows of traditional organized crime. The term can be translated as “special stream” or “special class”, implying a deviation from the conventional criminal structures of the past.
Unlike the hierarchical yakuza, Tokuryū groups are more fluid, digital, and dangerous in a modern sense. They often lack a defined leadership or physical headquarters, making them difficult to track or control. Yet their activities — including cybercrime, fraud, drug trafficking, and youth exploitation — are no less destructive.
Recruitment of Youth and Students
One of the most alarming features of Tokuryū-style operations is their targeting of students and vulnerable youth. High schoolers, university dropouts, and unemployed youth (sometimes referred to as NEETs — Not in Education, Employment, or Training) are recruited through social media, chat apps, and even online gaming platforms.
Young people are lured with promises of easy money and minimal risk. Initially, they may be asked to perform minor roles: delivering packages, withdrawing money from ATM accounts, or acting as intermediaries in “gray zone” financial operations. However, these small roles often spiral into deeper criminal entanglement — with threats, blackmail, and eventual criminal records that can destroy a young life before it even begins.
Types of Crimes Associated with Tokuryū
The crimes committed under the Tokuryū model are diverse and evolving. Some of the most common include:
- Special fraud schemes ( Tokushu sagi) such as phone scams targeting the elderly.
- Drug courier operations, often disguised as part-time jobs.
- Cybercrime and digital blackmail, sometimes carried out across borders.
- Assault and extortion, usually untraceable due to decentralized networks.
- Sexual exploitation, including coerced “enjo kōsai” (compensated dating) or trafficking.
In many cases, those involved do not even meet their handlers in person, making the operation harder to dismantle.
Law Enforcement Challenges
Japanese police face a unique challenge in dealing with Tokuryū-type groups. Traditional yakuza organizations could be watched, infiltrated, or tracked via long-standing surveillance methods. Tokuryū groups, on the other hand, operate in encrypted digital spaces, with temporary meeting spots, burner phones, and nontraditional hierarchies.
Moreover, the gray legal area surrounding youth participation makes enforcement difficult. While the government has introduced tougher laws, like the Anti-Organized Crime Law, these were designed for traditional yakuza groups. Police now find themselves needing new tools and legal frameworks to deal with these “special stream” entities.
The Social Cost
The emergence of Tokuryū has deep social consequences. It signals a shift in Japan’s criminal underworld from formalized structures with predictable behaviors to scattered, unpredictable, and socially corrosive entities. The targeting of youth also reflects underlying issues in Japanese society: lack of opportunity, rising alienation, and the digital isolation of young people.
If left unaddressed, Tokuryū-style networks could reshape organized crime in Japan for generations, bypassing the decline of yakuza only to replace them with something more flexible and more insidious.
Conclusion
The fall of the yakuza may seem like a success story for Japanese law enforcement, but it has given rise to new criminal models that are harder to detect, regulate, or dismantle. The so-called Tokuryū groups represent a dangerous evolution in organized crime — one that blends digital anonymity, youth exploitation, and decentralized operation. Combating this threat will require new strategies, community awareness, and stronger digital policing tools. More importantly, it will require addressing the social and economic voids that allow such groups to flourish.
