This is the Unusual Lifestyle Yakuza Members Must Obey

Despite their criminal activities, the yakuza claim to follow a code of honor inspired by samurai bushidō. Loyalty, obedience, and personal sacrifice are emphasized, with betrayal treated as the gravest sin. This sense of tradition helped distinguish them from other forms of organized crime.

Of course, reality often clashes with the romantic image. While bushidō emphasizes service and morality, yakuza bosses enforce obedience through violence and extortion. Still, the rhetoric of honor persists in initiation ceremonies, speeches, and their self-presentation as protectors of order, rather than just criminals.