The Japanese Yakuza is a notoriously secretive crime organization… inaccessible to outsiders. But Belgian-based photographer Anton Kusters and his brother, Malik, became the first westerners invited into the criminal underworld in 2008, after 10 months of negotiations with the Shinseikai, who control Tokyo’s infamous red light district, Kabukicho. Kusters must be a master in the art of diplomacy, because a gaijin (foreigner) being welcomed into the obscure yakuza world is unprecedented. Not only was he accepted into the fold, Kusters was allowed to photo-document them for two years. There were a bunch of sex clubs, stripteases and hostess bars I was fiendin’ to visit while in Japan. To my utter disappointment, those yakuza-run venues don’t allow gaijin to enter. A few of these dimly-lit photos allow a glimpse at what I missed.
These images are amazing, almost like watching a documentary. Don’t confuse Anton Kusters with goofball Ashton Kutcher… ain’t nuthin’ funny about the yakuza. Kusters was given access to some of the Shinseikai family’s most intimate moments — among them, a tattoo session for number two boss Yamamoto Kaicho; and a wake for member, Miyamoto-san. Powerful stuff. Nearly 100 images can be found in Anton Kusters’ book, Odo Yakuza Tokyo.
Check out the mini-gallery below, caped-off with a video featuring Anton Kusters discussing his incredible journey.
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