Yakuza boss sues expressway owners for discrimination against criminals
You gotta fight for your right to be a party to a contract. Ever since 2011, things have been getting rougher and rougher for members of organized crime groups in Japan. That was when a law was passed prohibiting companies from entering into contracts with any known member. That’s why any time you sign up […]
A senior member of Japan's yakuza, facing increasingly stringent restrictions on his freedom of movement, has taken legal action against expressway operators. Since 2011, companies in Japan have been barred from conducting business with known members of organized crime groups, leading to difficulties for yakuza in obtaining everyday services.
One such service is the ETC card system, which is set to replace cash toll payments on privately owned expressways by 2030. This system requires individuals to sign up for a specialized ETC Personal Card, a process that is currently inaccessible to yakuza members. In July 2023, the plaintiff applied for the card, attempting to bypass the requirement by crossing out a checkbox that would identify him as a member of an organized crime group.
Despite his efforts, his application was denied in November. A Fukuoka District Court judge later dismissed his lawsuit, stating that the restrictions on his rights and freedoms were minimal. While the judge's ruling is technically correct, the plaintiff argues that the sheer number of red lights on regular Japanese streets makes his life inconvenient.
The case raises questions about the fairness of discriminating against individuals based on their criminal history, with many online commenters weighing in on the matter.
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