http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-background.jpg
  • A desperate mother hands her delinqunet teenager over to the Japanese mafia for one year.

    A desperate mother hands her delinqunet teenager over to the Japanese mafia for one year.

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-trailer.jpgmp4:young_yakuza-trailer-1024.mov
  • Kumagai-san and two yakuzas walk in the evening in the Tokyo’s streets.

    Kumagai-san and two yakuzas walk in the evening in the Tokyo’s streets.

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-01.jpg
  • Kumagai-san and two yakuzas shop in Tokyo’s streets.

    Kumagai-san and two yakuzas shop in Tokyo’s streets.

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-02.jpg
  • Kumagai-san and three yakuzas walk in the evening in the Tokyo’s streets.

    Kumagai-san and three yakuzas walk in the evening in the Tokyo’s streets.

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-03.jpg
  • Kumagai-san, in his office

    Kumagai-san, in his office

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-04.jpg
  • Kumagai-san, chief of his clan is speaks to Naoki, the new trainee, in his office.

    Kumagai-san, chief of his clan is speaks to Naoki, the new trainee, in his office.

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-05.jpg
  • Naoki’s first interview with the Yakuza chief

    Naoki’s first interview with the Yakuza chief

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-06.jpg
  • Yakuzas in the public bath

    Yakuzas in the public bath

    http://cdn.itvs.org/young_yakuza-07.jpg

The Film

Meet the Japanese Mafia’s latest son: a 20 year old named Naoki, part of a surging, decade-long wave of juvenile delinquency in Japan. As Naoki rejects school, conventional employment, and family, his desperate mother decides to take one last-ditch effort to save him — by handing him over to the Mafia for one year and letting him choose his own path.

The Filmmakers

  1. Jean Pierre LimosinDirector
  2. Christian BauteProducer
  3. Hengameh PanahiProducer

  • This film premiered on August 18, 2008 on Sundance Channel

  • This film premiered on May 22, 2011 on Global Voices

  • This film is a part of:

    Global Perspectives Collection

How to See It

Film Details

Genre:Documentary
Region:Asia, Asia - East
Length:90 minutes
Topics:Community Portrait, Men, Urban Life, Crime & Justice, East Asian

Co-production of Celluloid Dreams Production and ITVS International