Yakuza II with Grant Newsham

In a follow up to last year’s highly-popular “Yakuza” program, Mr. Grant Newsham spoke about additional topics regarding this elusive group in a lunch program entitled, “Yakuza II” on March 14, 2018 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Over 45 guests in attendance were fascinated to hear about the Yakuza’s overseas activities and how rather than being a curious but ultimately harmless aspect of Japanese society, the Yakuza is a major hindrance on its development, economically, politically and socially.

“Yakuza” is a term used to describe Japan’s organized crime groups who were traditionally federations of gamblers and street merchants. Their history dates back hundreds of years. Today, there are 21 major Yakuza groups with more than 53,000 members, according to the National Police Agency. Many of their money-making activities are illegal but they also run legitimate enterprises. They claim to be humanitarian groups that keep order in Japan.

Mr. Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Colonel, is an independent business risk consultant specializing in organized crime, corruption, fraud, and other oft-overlooked threats to private companies doing international business. He lived in Japan for over 20 years and served as a U.S. Diplomat before spending over a decade with Morgan Stanley Japan fending off risk-threats to private companies