The Yakuza are essentially the Japanese Mafia, a hierarchical organisation characterised by underground crime, black market trading, extreme subservience and prideful violence.

We’ve listed below some of the best Yakuza movies you should watch.

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DE EN ES FR IT PT RU

30 The Outsider, 2017

After World War II, an American POW stays in Japan and works his way through the rituals and hardships of the yakuza to become a member of the crime organization.

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29 Dead or Alive (DEAD OR ALIVE: 犯罪者 | Deddo oa araibu: Hanzaisha), 1999

A yakuza of Chinese descent and a Japanese cop each wage their own war against the Japanese mafia. But they are destined to meet. Their encounter will change the world.

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28 The Blood of Wolves (孤狼の血 | Koro no chi), 2018

Hiroshima Police detective Ogami Shogo and his partner Hioka Shuichi are investigating the disappearance of a company’s employees amidst an escalating yakuza turf war in 1988. Blood, shooting and death is everywhere. At the same time, there is a suspicion that the former man has his own ties to the thugs. Certainly many of his methods and actions are thuggish, violent and should be illegal.

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27 Dead or Alive 2 (DEAD OR ALIVE 2 逃亡者 | Dead or Alive 2: Tôbôsha), 2000

Two contract killers cross paths in the middle of the same job and realize they are childhood friends. Together they take a break from killing and visit the small island they once called home. After reflecting on their past lives they decided to team up and use their talents in killing for good… much to the upset of the crime syndicates.

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26 Gendai yakuza: hito-kiri yota (現代やくざ　人斬り与太), 1972

A yakuza, who has an untamed rage and lack of respect for authority, finds himself leading the remnants of the gang he once belonged to in order to secure an area of their own.

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25 Sympathy for the Underdog (博徒外人部隊 | Bakuto gaijin butai), 1971

The film’s main character, Masuo Gunji, is an honorable old-school yakuza boss whose gang is driven out of Yokohama by a powerful rival from Tokyo. After serving ten years in prison, Gunji reunites with the few men still loyal to him and sets out to rebuild his old organization. However, after setting up a lucrative bootlegging operation in Okinawa, the yakuza family from Tokyo that was responsible for their previous downfall and Gunji’s imprisonment comes to the island planning to seize control of the territory. Gunji and his men are soon forced to engage in an epic battle for their lives.

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24 First Love (初恋 | Hatsukoi), 2019

Leo is a young boxer, successful but unable to show emotion. He has a fight scheduled and is sure that he will win. Instead, his opponent knocks him out. This triggers a chain of unpleasant events involving drugs, corrupt cops, the Yakuza, a female assassin — and Monica, an escort that he must rescue. It’s one hell of a night for Leo.

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23 Shinjuku Triad Society (新宿黒社会 チャイナ マフィア戦争 | Shinjuku kuroshakai: Chaina mafia sensô), 1995

Amidst a Chinese and Japanese mafia war, a lawyer for the Chinese mob finds a rift forming between him and his corrupt police office brother.

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22 Graveyard of Honor (新・仁義の墓場 | Shin jingi no hakaba), 2002

A barkeeper saves a Yakuza boss’ life and thus makes his way up in the organization. However his fear of nothing soon causes problems.

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21 Boiling Point (3-4×10月 | 3-4 x jûgatsu), 1990

Two members of a Japanese junior baseball team get mixed up with the local yakuza. After their coach is severely injured by the gangsters, the two boys set off to Okinawa to purchase a gun in order to get revenge. While in Okinawa they get befriended by a psychotic yakuza outcast who is planning a revenge of his own.

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