The pictures are nice, however I could take or leave the op-ed here. It doesn't contain anything particularly novel, and ranges from glossed over to downright

The pictures are nice, however I could take or leave the op-ed here. It doesn't contain anything particularly novel, and ranges from glossed over to downright naive ("hot coal tattoo removal"). Having lived in Japan for a number of years, I can attest to the fact that the remarkably low incident of street crime is often attributed to the Yakuza presence. It's a notion the gangs themselves actively promote and does contribute to the public's continued tolerance of their presence.