Sokaiya: Extortion, Protection and the Japanese Corporation

by Kenneth Szymkowiak

Overview

Sokaiya are extortionists who target Japanese corporations for payoffs. They threaten to reveal corporate secrets and scandals, usually at shareholder meetings. This book explores the curious but not unusual relationship that grows between executives and sokaiya, who also offer their services to protect the corporation from other sokaiya, thus becoming a necessary evil in the world of Japanese business. The book documents the history and development of sokaiya over the past 100 years since Japan first enacted a commercial code. It includes interviews with police, lawyers, corporate executives, as well as sokaiya and members of the yakuza (traditional Japanese gangsters).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765607805
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/30/2001
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 9.06(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction, Chapter 1. Reconstructing Sokaiya, Chapter 2. Sokaiya Foundations and History, Chapter 3. Conflict, Resolution, Adaptation, Chapter 4. Commercial Code Reform, Chapter 5. Sokaiya Maintain Position, Chapter 6. Sokaiya at a Shareholder Meeting, Chapter 7. Riding the Bear, Epilogue, References, Index