Shukan Taishu
Venus (Feb. 22) sets about determining what commoners can do to
protect themselves from unknowingly associating with crime syndicates.
There are thousands
of yakuza front companies operating in Japan, says the tabloid. “I used to work at such an organization,” confesses a
freelance writer. “Many other employees did not know, however, that a gang
group was behind it.”
To avoid working for
such a firm, the writer suggests research. “You should at least check the
company’s name on the net,” the source says. “While it is important to see
what users on bulletin boards say, what’s crucial is to know the number of years it has been in business
and its history.”
Companies that
change their names and lines of businesses frequently are suspect, says the
writer, adding: “Companies that use simple English words such as ‘consultant’
or ‘create’ following a name is certainly dubious as it is an attempt to establish a good image just from
the sound of the name.”
The magazine then
refers to a television ad campaign that featured a popular actress and a
handsome corporate managing director. The director’s company boasted of conditions that appeared
too good to be true, which, according to the writer, when placed next to the
sharp appearance of the executive raised alarms regarding gang ties.
“Gangsters rely on popularity,” the writer says. “Being handsome is as
valuable as being good at fighting.”
Lack of vertical
movement within a company is also a warning sign. In working for a
family-owned business, the tabloid says, it is difficult for employees to be
promoted to upper-management because such positions are already occupied by
relatives. Yakuza front companies operate in a similar manner.
“These companies, to
a degree, become bi-polar,” explains the writer. “On one side, there are
employees who simply don’t know what’s going on. Basically, they are treated
the same as deceived customers.
The companies wind up just using them.”
The tabloid concludes
that employees at firms with only handsome men above them might want to reconsider their options.
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VOCABULARY
1.
Syndicate
(n) - a group of people or companies who join together in order to achieve a
particular aim
2.
Tabloid
(n) - a newspaper that has small pages, a lot of photographs, and stories
mainly about sex, famous people etc rather than serious news
3.
Crucial
(adj.) - extremely important, because everything else depends on it
4.
Dubious
(adj.) - probably not honest, true, right etc
5.
Boasted
(v) - if a place, object, or organization boasts something, it has something
that is very good
6.
Deceived
(v) - to make someone believe something that is not true [= trick; ↪ deception]
7.
Reconsider
(v) - to think again about something in order to decide if you should change
your opinion or do something different
QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
1.
What is a yakuza? Why are people afraid of
yakuza?
2.
Do you think they are bad? Why? Why not?
3.
Have you ever encountered these people?
4.
Do you belong to any organization like
fraternity / sorority? Share your experience.
5.
Discuss about gang fights.
