The Week - The U.S. imposed financial sanctions on the Japanese mob, but will the Japanese government cooperate?Japan's yakuza gangsters are known for their iconic traditions, such as sporting elaborate full-body tattoos, and chopping off their own pinky fingers as a form of penance. But the yakuza are emerging as thoroughly modern criminal syndicates with global reach. That's why the U.S. Treasury is imposing sanctions on Japan's largest yakuza clan, the Yamaguchi-gumi. While the sanctions target gangsters, they could also have serious implications for the Yakuza's partners — which include Japanese businessmen and politicians. Here, a guide to the standoff:
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