"Legal Loopholes Study Groups" (法の抜け穴勉強会)

9 September 2009

According to reports in Japanese press, three major "designated gang organisations" (指定暴力団), in response to the revised Anti-gang Measures Law (暴力団対策法), were diligently organising "study groups" (勉強会) for its members. The Japanese press called these "legal loopholes study groups" (法の抜け穴勉強会). Other "counter-measures" taken by the gangs include directions to its members to take special care not to implicate the senior members.

The Yamaguchi-gumi (山口組), the largest gang with estimated 4 million members based in Kobe (神戸) apparently went further and issued "homework" (宿題) in June to groups under this umbrella related to the revised anti-gang law and requested reports to be submitted. Homework includes scenario questions such as "What is the appropriate response under the new law if this happens...?"

Other gangs such as the Tokyo Roppongi (六本木) based Inagawa-kai (稲川会) and Japan second largest gang (estimated members 10,000) Sumiyoshi-kai (住吉会) were reported to invite legal specialists and lecturers to teach in the study groups and gang leaders were reported saying that "we realise that the law enforcement is getting stricter from now on and we must study".

The police is said to be accusing legal experts for providing the study materials.

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