The Japanese Yakuza – Tattooed gangsters, modern Robin Hoods or sex-addicted gamblers? is the title of a planned anthology. The Japanese yakuza and especially their image in popular culture has not been part of any detailed research about the Yakuza yet. To change this situation, the planned anthology will try to outline the image of the yakuza in popular culture by analyzing manga comics, novels, autobiographies and movies as well as computer games. The range of topics is wide open and possible articles could deal with. but are not limited to

– special movies, manga comics or novels, which deal with the Yakuza
– comparative analysis of Western and Japanese images
– changing images: how did former media differ in the image of the Japanese yakuza from modern media?
– the impact of the yakuza image on subcultures and genres

Please send a short proposal for an article (max. 300 words) and a short cv to jacob.m.a84@googlemail.com (Deadline for proposal is July 31, 2013). The final drafts (length of 5000-7500 words, following the latest Chicago Manual of Style) will be due to June 30, 2014.

For any questions about this project, please contact Dr. Frank Jacob jacob.m.a84@googlemail.com

Dr. Frank Jacob
Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf
Institut fur Geschichtswissenschaft
Universitatsstr. 1, 40225 Dusseldorf
Email: jacob.m.a84@googlemail.com