Organized Crime
暴力団 · boryokudan
Also known as: boryokudan
Japan's organised crime groups, the yakuza; the "no gang members" notice at a venue's door is a statement that they are refused service.
Boryokudan are the organised crime groups, commonly called yakuza, designated under Japanese law. Every prefecture has an ordinance against them, under which restaurants and nightlife venues refuse service to gang members and must not pay protection money. That is why entrances and price lists carry a notice refusing entry to anyone connected to organised crime.
The notice is nothing for a visitor to worry about; if anything it shows the venue is operating under the ordinance. If you are ever pressed for money with threats after following a tout into a venue, do not argue the bill on the spot: call 110 or go to the nearest police box.
When you'll encounter this
You see it on notices at venue entrances, in information about the ordinances, and in advice on where to turn if there is trouble.
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