Street Food Vendors in Japan (Tekiya) and the Yakuza Connection

Street food vendors in Japan, known as tekiya, have a long and somewhat controversial history. These vendors, often from the burakumin origin, were once seen as itinerant and mostly sold low-quality goods. Their operations were marked by fraudulent and coercive sales tactics, leading to their mistrust and prejudice. However, the nature of their activities and the structure of their organizations led to a unique connection with another notorious group in Japanese society—the Yakuza.

The Itinerant Street Food Vendors (Tekiya)

Teikiya were traditionally itinerant food sellers who roamed local festivals like matsuri. They sold a variety of food, usually simple and often of low quality. These vendors were known for their itinerant nature, moving from one location to another to sell their goods. They frequently used fraudulent and coercive tactics, which contributed to their poor reputation among the general public. As a result, tekiya were often seen as avaricious, exploitative, and dishonest.

The Burakumin Background of Tekiya

The majority of tekiya in Japan came from the burakumin community, which had historically been the most oppressed and marginalized group in Japanese society. Burakumin, generally believed to be of low caste, faced significant social discrimination, and they often gravitated towards professions that were socially disdained, such as street vending, butchery, and waste disposal. The burakumin community, due to this long-standing marginalization, was often more resilient and resourceful in finding ways to survive, leading many to become street food vendors.

The Organization and Structure of Tekiya Gangs

Tekiya operated in a semi-organized manner, forming gangs similar to the way other marginal communities in society self-organized. These gangs were often characterized by a traditional oyabun-kobun authority structure, where the leader (oyabun) led a group of members (kobun). The structure was reminiscent of the hierarchical nature observed in the Yakuza, another infamous group in Japan.

It was not uncommon for tekiya to be involved in a variety of illegal activities. While they officially conducted legitimate business, many also ran protection rackets, extorting money from other businesses and individuals. Tekiya would protect stalls in exchange for a fee, a practice that paralleled the broader Yakuza's protection racketeering.

The Connection to the Yakuza

The connection between tekiya and the Yakuza was not just superficial. Many of today's Yakuza members still identify as having roots in tekiya. Additionally, because Yakuza often operated in local communities and had their own network of protection rackets, many Yakuza members began their criminal careers in tekiya gangs. This made the line between legitimate street vending and organized crime increasingly blurred.

Modern Street Food Vendors and the Yakuza

Today, many of the practices once common among tekiya, such as paying protection money or seeking prior permission to set up a stall, are still present. In many cases, street vendors, including those who identify as part of the tekiya tradition, have to pay to set up their stall or risk facing harassment or extortion from local Yakuza members. Some Yakuza groups even set up their own street food stalls, directly exploiting the vulnerable community of middlemen and entrepreneurs in the street food sector.

As a result, the relationship between tekiya and the Yakuza continues to be an important and oft-discussed topic in Japanese society. While tekiya have historically been viewed negatively, their connection to the Yakuza has added another layer of complexity to their role in Japanese culture.