Up close and personal with the women of the Yakuza

Partners in crime — For her series I give you my life (命預けます), photographer Chloé Jafé infiltrated the infamous Japanese crime syndicate, capturing the often overlooked lives of Yakuza wives.

Led by a fascination of Japanese culture, Chloé Jafé moved to Japan, a country where she barely knew anyone and spoke very little of the language. While there, a project that at first seemed impossible became possible, when she managed to gain access to the rarely seen lives of women associated with the Yakuza – one of Japan’s largest organised crime syndicates.

Watching old samurai films, Jafé realised that the women of the underworld seldom made it into the spotlight. But she cites one film, Gokudo no tsumamachi (1986), which tells the stories of two Yakuza wives, as being a driving inspiration behind the work.

As expected, getting access to this notoriously closed community wasn’t an easy task. What it came down to in the end was sheer perseverance; time invested in research, meeting people, learning the language and further deepening her understanding of Japanese culture.

While working as a hostess in Tokyo, Jafé quickly understood that women had very little autonomy when it came to decision-making, and she realised that if she was serious about pursuing her project, she needed to get permission from a Yakuza boss.

2016, Takamatsu. Ms Midori

Soon, an opportunity arose. It was late afternoon in the streets of Asakusa during a festival. The sun was finally setting after a hot day. Tired from shooting the festival since the early hours, Jafé decided to take a break and sat down on the pavement. As she sat there, a man in a kimono strode past: a Yakuza boss, surrounded by bodyguards. “He was very elegant,” Jafé recalls. “I didn’t know who he was, but I was sitting on his street. Very kindly, he offered me a beer and this is how it all started.”

Her first official meeting with him was something straight out of a gangster film. Jafé invited the boss to dinner at a restaurant of her choosing, a place that was tucked between a train station and a police station (just in case). Arriving 30 minutes early she found the boss was already there, flanked by two bodyguards. They entered the restaurant, and the bodyguards waited outside.

“My Japanese was still clumsy then, so I had prepared and printed a proposal in order to explain my intentions clearly,” Jafé says. “When he read it, he smiled and wondered why I wanted to focus on women. Then he told me that he knew a lot of people all over Japan and that he could help me.”

“Back then, he probably didn’t think I was serious, but after some time, when he realised my determination, he slowly opened his doors.”

2016, Takamatsu. Ms Ana is having a shower at the sento (traditional Japanese public bath)

Jafé says that throughout her adventure, she got to learn two important Japanese values. Firstly, “ganbarimasu” (‘doing your best’) and “gaman” (‘patience’).

In reality, Jafé had no other option than to be patient. If she wanted to earn such intimate access, she knew she had to first develop trust. As a result, Jafé worked extremely closely with the women she photographed; some even ended up becoming her friends. Her persistence paid off and the proof is evident in the pictures. Often appearing nude, the women’s tattoos dominate the frames, revealing an individuality that is not often shown.

In terms of how women fit into the patriarchal structure of the Yakuza, Jafé says: “Yakuza aren’t more patriarchal than the rest of the country, so most of Yakuza wives have the life of ‘basic’ Japanese housewives. The group I followed is very much like a family. During group meetings, while men organise money and alcohol, women usually organise the food.”

“Depending on which Yakuza you marry, your role will vary. The wife of the boss has a vital role in the group. She is the boss’s shadow. She walks by his side and knows everything. Her role is to look after the young recruits and advise the boss. If the boss goes to jail, or dies, his wife takes over the group.”

It is this lifelong devotion that Jafé chose to reflect when she titled her series, I give you my life (命預けます). “I wanted to give a voice to these women, who don’t always get a chance to express themselves and show that ‘behind every great man, there’s a great woman.’”

2014, Chiba. The younger henchmen are looking after the children on the beach for the celebration of “Umi no hi”, the day of the sea.

2015, Saitama. Stuffed dog in the boss office.

2016, Tokyo. Lovers having an intimate moment.

2016, Takamastu. Octopus.

2015, Asakusa, Tokyo. Women from the group during the Sanja matsuri (Japanese festival).

Jafé’s work will be exhibited at Akio Nagasawa’s gallery during Photo London.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Rustic footbridge across a river, with people crossing it on a sunny day. Warm tones and shadows suggest an outdoor, natural setting.
Sport

In Medellín’s alleys and side streets, football’s founding spirit shines

Street Spirit — Granted two weeks of unfettered access, photographer Tom Ringsby captures the warmth and DIY essence of the Colombian city’s grassroots street football scene.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Diverse group of people with various expressions and styles, surrounded by bold text and graphics in dark colours.
Culture

Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers

Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Black and white image of several people in suits, some with long hair and unconventional appearances, alongside a large ship or boat model. Text overlaid: "FREAKS AND FINANCES".
Culture

On Alexander Skarsgård’s trousers, The Rehearsal, and the importance of weirdos

Freaks and Finances — In the May edition of our monthly culture newsletter, columnist Emma Garland reflects on the Swedish actor’s Cannes look, Nathan Fielder’s wild ambition, and Jafaican.

Written by: Emma Garland

Bright red-haired person shouting into microphone, surrounded by smoke and colourful lights.
Music

Riot grrrl is back. Do we need it more than ever?

Femme punk forever — With social media driving renewed interest in the early ’90s movement, which blended feminist politics with brash punk music, we spoke to vanguards of the genre’s new wave, who are reviving its ethos as women’s rights come increasingly under attack.

Written by: Kurt Suchman

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.