Yakuza or Gokudou (極道*)? is a well-known crime syndicate in Japan, very similar to the Italian Mafia. The members of Yakuza abide by strict codes of conduct, calling themselves the "chivalrous organizations" (任侠団体 or 仁侠団体, ninkyou dantai)?. However, by the media they are called the "violence group," (暴力団, bouryokudan)?. The biggest Yakuza organizations today still inherit the structures and practices of their roots in the 17th century.
