Mako Nishimura, the only woman known to have become a full-fledged yakuza, has recounted her journey from a teenage runaway to a feared gangster. Now in her 50s, she reflects on a life of violence, drug addiction, and the decline of Japan's organised crime syndicates. Standing at just 5 feet tall, Nishimura claims she never lost a fight in nearly 40 years, often disabling opponents by striking their legs with a club or plank of wood.
Her entry into the yakuza began in 1986 when, aged 19, she defended a pregnant friend from five attackers using a baseball bat. After fleeing to Tokyo, she returned to Gifu and was recruited by Ryochi Sugino, a convicted murderer who led a local affiliate of a major yakuza group. At 20, she formalised her membership through a sake-sharing ritual, pledging lifelong loyalty to Sugino. Despite taunts from male members, she earned respect by running sex workers and methamphetamine operations.
During the 1980s, the yakuza were at their peak, with ties to politics and legitimate businesses. However, Japan's economic bubble burst in the early 1990s, leading to public pressure for crackdowns. Subsequent laws and competition from international crime groups weakened the yakuza. Nishimura's own downfall came through drug addiction; she became hooked on methamphetamine, which led to paranoia and a loss of control. She eventually left the gang and now lives in obscurity, struggling with the aftermath of her past.
