Tokoryus in Japan: Operation and Distinction with Yakuza

Japan has been experiencing a significant trend in crime in recent years, with the emergence of anonymous and mobile groups, referred to by the authorities as “… ” (Tokoryū). These groups differ profoundly from traditional yakuzas, in particular by their flexible structure, their massive use of social networks to recruit participants and their ability to form and dissolve rapidly. The Japanese police have adapted their prevention and enforcement strategies to deal with this new threat, focusing on the protection of citizens and national coordination of law enforcement.

Definition and organisation of anonymous and mobile groups

The Tokoryū are criminal collectives with no strict hierarchy or fixed territorial structure. Unlike the Yakuza, which have internal codes, rituals and links with the legal and illegal economy, the Tokuryū operate in a timely and opportunistic manner. Members recruit mainly via social networks and instant messaging, for specific missions such as theft, fraud or illegal debt recovery. This flexibility allows groups to disappear after each action and reappear with new members, making their detection complex.

The Tokoryū roles are usually divided between a few coordinators or recruiters and a majority of temporary executors. The latter, often young, are used to carry out specific actions and are abandoned after each operation, limiting traceability and direct legal impact on the group’s leaders. The mobile structure contrasts strongly with that of the yakuza, which have established hierarchies and lasting relations with other criminal groups or economic actors.

Basic differences with the yakuza system

Yakuza are the traditional organized crime in Japan, with clearly identified clans, strict hierarchy, precise territories and codified rules of conduct. Their activities may include gambling, drug trafficking, prostitution, debt recovery or extortion, but they often form part of long-term relationships with local authorities and legal economic actors.

On the other hand, the Tokoryū are characterized by:

• The absence of a fixed hierarchy or internal discipline.
• Members recruited for ad hoc and temporary missions.
• Use of social networks and digital anonymity to communicate and recruit.
• Mobility and ability to disappear and reform quickly.
• Apparent independence from Mafia clans, although some payments to yakuzas may create indirect financial ties.

These distinctions make the fight against Tokuryū more complex than that against the yakuza, as traditional methods of monitoring, controlling territories or monitoring clans are not directly applicable.

Criminal activities and legal implications

The Tokoryū are involved in a wide range of crimes, ranging from financial fraud to physical violence, drug trafficking and document forgery. The numbers of arrests between 2021 and 2024 show that more than 10,000 people were arrested for actions related to these groups. Of these, 6170 cases involved specialized fraud, 2292 drug-related offences, 1721 infrastructure crimes such as falsification of passports or illegal work, and 195 direct interventions in the context of “illegal work” or extortion.

Some cases revealed that the Tokoryū paid part of their earnings to the yakuza, creating an indirect connection with traditional organized crime. However, unlike the Yakuza, the Tokuryū do not have internal discipline to plan and implement long-term activities. This lack of a hierarchical structure makes their actions more unpredictable and increases the risk of spontaneous violence or serious harm to citizens.

Notable cases and media coverage

Several cases have highlighted the dangerousness of Tokuria. For example, violent recovery operations in the Hiroshima region have led to deaths and disappearance of bodies, involving executors recruited via social networks and directed from abroad by instant couriers. Other cases revealed the use of anonymous accounts on social networks to intimidate, recruit or disseminate false information. These events contrast with the yakuza, whose criminal activities are generally more visible and regulated by internal codes.

The Japanese media have identified a new form of crime, exploiting mobility and digital anonymity to carry out large-scale crimes. The social impact is considerable, particularly in terms of youth safety and confidence in digital networks.

Police responses and prevention strategies

To address this threat, the Japanese police have put in place appropriate and dynamic measures. Specialized units and cross-sectional teams have been established in several prefectures, including online communications analysis and monitoring cells. The protection of people approached by illegal job offers on the Internet is also a central component, with a particular focus on young people and exposed families.

At the national level, a unified command has been established, including an analysis office to centralize information on these groups. Local forces cooperate with neighbouring departments and have cross-cutting structures to anticipate crimes and respond quickly. The police strategy focuses on early detection, the dismantling of cells and the protection of citizens, while adapting traditional methods against Yakuzas to the specificities of Tokuria.

Youth exposure and family prevention

Young people are a prime target for Tokouryū, especially via the online “illegal work”. The police reported that nearly 70 per cent of victims or temporary perpetrators were adolescents and young adults, with a significant proportion of older adults. Prevention programs include school awareness campaigns and family counselling to recognize signs of exposure to these groups.

The role of parents and educational institutions is crucial for informing young people about the dangers of digital anonymity, illegal job offers and instant messaging recruitment. Prevention is based on education, vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to report suspicious activity.

National coordination and technology monitoring

The Japanese police have developed a coordination network between departments and at the central level to manage the Tokoryū. Analysts monitor online activities, identify recruiters and track financial flows associated with crimes. This approach, oriented towards speed and mobility, differs from traditional methods against yakuza, which are based on territorial monitoring and infiltration of identified clans.

The combination of technological monitoring, specialized units and youth protection is the core of Japan’s strategy to prevent the expansion of these groups and protect the population.

Anonymous and mobile groups represent a significant trend in crime in Japan, contrasting strongly with the Yakuza system. Their flexibility, the use of digital technologies and the temporary distribution of roles require appropriate and dynamic responses from law enforcement. National coordination, specialized units and preventive measures for young people and families are essential to limit the impact of these collectives and to maintain public safety.

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