Certain social groups and sub-cultures undergo various body modification techniques to signify membership to one another and to the larger public. Piercings and tattoos, for instance, are among the most popular of rituals. For members of the all-male Yakuza mafia, however, elaborate - and painful - body modifications represent an individual's unwavering loyalty to his oyabun ("father" or senior member in the hierarchy) and the Yakuza lifestyle.
Irezumi Tattooing: Members cover their bodies (including both sides of their torso as well as their arms and legs) with colorful and intricate tattoos. Alongside images of dragons and flowers, these extensive body murals also contain the trademark designs of a specific gang, which act almost as an identification badge for members. The entire body suit takes approximately 10-12 years to complete, and individuals are expected to tolerate the excruciating procedure as proof of their mettle and dedication.
Yubitsume (or yubitzume): According to The Crime Library, "If a yakuza member displeases or severely disappoints his boss, the punishment is often yubizume, the amputation of the last joint of the little finger. A second offense will require the severing of the second joint of that finger, and additional offenses might require moving on to the next finger. A man knows that he must commit yubizume when his immediate superior gives him a knife and a string to staunch the bleeding." The young offender will then wrap the severed joint in a cloth and present it to his oyuban in a small package, thus completing the act of penance. (Side note: For those of you who remember, yubitsume was portrayed in a far more comical light in an episode of Saturday Night Live. American tourist Chris Farley participates in a Japanese game show and learns a bit too late that yubitsume is the penalty for answering a question incorrectly.)
Pearling: The last - and to many, the most disturbing - Yakuza ritual is pearling, also known as "Yakuza beading" and "genital beading." This particular body modification ritual involves "permanently inserting small beads made of various materials beneath the skin of the shaft or foreskin of the penis." Common materials include teflon, silicone, surgical steel, and titanium - similar to those used in most subdermal implant surgeries. While individuals outside of this mafia sub-culture willingly undergo this procedure to enhance the sexual pleasure of their partners or for other, distinct cultural reasons, Yakuza members perform pearling while in prison. Each bead is meant to symbolize a year spent behind bars.
And you thought American and Italian mafiosos were bad-asses.
