EDITORIAL: Mayor-yakuza meetings

Mayor should take the lead in driving out gangsters, particularly ones who make unjust demands. But one mayor was found to have been secretly meeting with the head of an organized crime group, making an empty slogan of vows to sever ties with yakuza.

The situation occurred in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture. A yakuza group demanded a company that received an order for a public works project from the city to give it a contract for cleaning work. After trouble ensued, the yakuza group claimed there was collusion between the company and the city, and demanded an explanation from the city.

Mayor Kazuo Abe met with the head of the yakuza group twice in December in an attempt to settle the dispute. A representative of the company was also present on one occasion.

Abe said he decided to meet with the gang leader in person to settle the situation because gang members, including the leader, had visited the municipal office and scared the employees.

The mayor admitted it was "unwise" to meet the mob leader and said he "reflected on his action." But Abe also repeatedly said he "acted as a shield to protect municipal employees."

"I think I did the right thing in that regard," the mayor said.

His decision to take the initiative to settle the problem is not completely incomprehensible. But the mayor went on his own outside the municipal office to talk with gangsters at their request. It is questionable whether such behavior can really lead to the protection of employees and citizens.

Yakuza groups often make unjust accusations against local governments and businesses and use these allegations to demand preferential treatment in bidding for public works projects or appointment as subcontractors.

It is clear that yakuza can take advantage of government and business officials if meetings are held without careful consideration.

The situation in Kanuma may appear to be under control. But the mayor's meeting with the mob leader could encourage the group to make even more unreasonable demands.

In fact, Abe told the gang leader: "If anything comes up, please tell us. You can also directly contact me if you want."

Such tactics could be very dangerous in the long run and do nothing to sever ties with gangsters.

Why did the mayor agree to meet with the gangster in the first place? Abe said a former speaker of the prefectural assembly acted as an intermediary. But didn't Abe do so because he was intimidated by the group?

In 2001, a Kanuma municipal employee was killed by people with mob connections over waste disposal.

The incident led to calls across the nation for measures to prevent violence against the administration officials.

After the employee's death, Kanuma compiled a manual on how to deal with unreasonable demands made by gangsters and other groups.

The manual tells workers to avoid meeting gangsters behind closed doors, refuse yakuza demands for a meeting with one's superiors, and use clear words and actions to dash the hopes of the other party. However, the mayor himself defied the manual. If Abe had to meet the gang leader, he should have first consulted the police and asked them to attend the meeting with the mobster.

According to a survey by the National Police Agency and other sources, one-third of local governments have received unjust demands from yakuza and other groups.

The fact that gangster interference is so widespread is all the more reason for local governments to take a firm stand against them. In order to really protect employees and residents, the heads of local governments need to renew such determination.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 27(IHT/Asahi: March 28,2008)