A yakuza with a college degree? The streets just got academic.
Tachibana Shuji (Kazuki Namioka), leader of the Tachibana-gumi under the Anzai-gumi, is a unique figure—a university graduate turned yakuza. Known as the youngest leader in the Anzai-gumi, he was inspired by Anzai Takashi (Koichi Iwaki), the group's boss, and chose the yakuza path, aiming to be like him. Trouble arises when a thug from the Otsuru Family deals drugs in Anzai-gumi’s territory, violating their rules and sparking conflict. As tensions with the Otsuru Family threaten war, internal rifts form within the Anzai-gumi. Meanwhile, Anzai is set to be released from prison after 13 years, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.
Acting
Namioka's quiet intensity sells the educated outsider premise hard.
Writing
71 minutes, zero fat — every scene builds toward inevitable bloodshed.
Director
Yūji Minato
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Yūji Minato specializes in ultra-low-budget yakuza films, often shot in under a week with veteran character actors like Yukijiro Hotaru (famous for Hideo Nakata's Ring).
The 'university graduate yakuza' archepe reflects real post-bubble era shifts where economic desperation and collapsed salaryman dreams pushed educated youth into organized crime.
JP
