ONLY IN JAPAN: YAMIBAITO - "DARK PART-TIME JOBS"

The new crime trend in Japan is "yamibaito" (literally “dark part-time jobs”). What happens is an anonymous employer advertises on social media, offering high pay for a one-time job. However, when people respond, they learn that the "job" in question is actually some kind of crime, like robbery, fraud, or burglary.

So, just tell the dude to f**k off, right?

No, Japan doesn't quite work that way.

What instead happens is that the applicant then faces threats from the "prospective employer" and are then, believe it or not, pressured into going through with the crime against their better judgment.

A lot of this is to do with the "power relation" between employers and employees, which appears to kick in even before someone gets the job and may possibly be related to Japan's heavily Confucianist culture.

This autumn it led to a spate of home invasions that sparked a media frenzy. Now it seems that the Yakuza are lending their voices to the growing outcry against this toxic trend. 

Last month, the Eleventh Generation Himonya Family of the Inagawa-kai, posted the following announcement at the entrance to their headquarters:

"Announcement: There have recently been many instances of yamibaito, telephone fraud, and robberies, but the Himonya Family will take strict action against such people and groups operating in the Family’s territory (Shinagawa Ward, Ota Ward, parts of Setagaya Ward, parts of Meguro Ward). We are working to create a safe community."

Not to be outdone, the Sixth Generation Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest yakuza group in Japan also let it be known that they are prohibiting any yakuza involvement in yamibaito.

Looks like the old guard of the crime world is worried about the new generation of criminals, who are much more internet-savvy and don't play by self-serving antiquated codes of conduct. 

Wow, it's almost like the Japanese crime world is just like the Japanese business world!