"Can Yakuza Appear on TV and Date?"...Explaining the Controversial Show 'Bad Romance' [Sunday Culture]

Delinquent Culture on Full Display with Special Combat Uniforms and Irezumi Tattoos
Police Implement Yakuza Countermeasures... Mixed Reactions Within Japan

"Have you ever been arrested?"

Would you believe it if you heard this was a question exchanged between people interested in each other? I always thought Korea was the leader in dating reality shows, but recently, a Japanese dating show on Netflix has been making waves. The show, "Furyangyeonae" ("Bad Romance"), features former organized crime members (Yakuza), biker gang members, and hosts as contestants seeking love. It has even climbed to third place in Netflix Korea's viewership rankings, drawing significant attention. Right from the start, contestants appeared in special combat uniforms and got into a heated fight, asking, "What are you looking at?"-leaving a strong impression.

Japanese Netflix's dating show 'Furyou Renai'. Netflix Japan Instagram.

This program tells the stories of people who could not mix with mainstream society, so it naturally includes cultural elements that may be difficult to understand from a Korean perspective. Even in Japan, public opinion toward these groups is not entirely positive, to the extent that the country has enacted the "Anti-Yakuza Law." Today, let me introduce you to various aspects of Japan's "delinquent culture" as reflected in "Furyangyeonae."

Representative image of the Japanese Netflix dating show "Bullyangyeonae". Netflix.

The Boldness Revealed in the Title... Appearing in Combat Uniforms and Tattoos

While the show is translated as "Furyangyeonae" ("Bad Romance") in Korea, the original Japanese title is "Love Joto" (ラヴ上等). In Japan, "Joto" (上等) means "the highest quality." Delinquents often use this phrase; when they feel someone is being arrogant, they might say it, and the expression "Joto da" (上等だ) can also mean "I gladly accept your provocation." When attached to a noun, it carries the nuance of "I am prepared to accept this." That's why combat uniforms worn by biker gangs or Yakuza are often embroidered with phrases like "Fight Joto," meaning "fighting is welcome." Considering this, the show's title "Love Joto" implies a willingness to devote oneself entirely for love.

Most of the male contestants appear in combat uniforms. These are symbols of biker gangs and Yakuza, but despite the resemblance to special forces attire, they have no connection to the military. The style actually originated from modified work clothes worn by construction workers. Eventually, these outfits came to symbolize the idea of "risking one's life for fights or wild rides," similar to the founding spirit of special forces. Contestants embroider various meaningful phrases onto their uniforms, such as "Tenjo Tenge Yuiga Dokuson" ("Peerless Under Heaven"), "Noble Biker Aristocrat," "Invincible," and "Utter Ruthlessness"-all of which sound quite menacing. In the past, Japanese right-wing activists also wore these uniforms, which is why phrases like "Kamikaze Special Attack Force" and "Patriotic Martyr" are commonly embroidered as well.

A scene of male contestants fighting in episode 1 of the Japanese Netflix dating show "Furyangyeonae." All are wearing special combat suits. Netflix.

Most of the contestants have a variety of tattoos. Given that Japan is even more conservative about tattoos than Korea, it's surprising how they managed to gather so many people with elaborate dragon tattoos. In particular, a male contestant named "Yanbo," a former Yakuza, stands out with a massive tattoo of King Enma covering his chest and abdomen. Tomohiko Suzuki, a columnist who wrote the book "I Met 2,000 Yakuza," explained the connection between Yakuza and tattoos in an interview with Asahi Shimbun: "They get tattoos as a declaration that they will never return to ordinary life, committing to live as Yakuza for the rest of their lives." He also noted that in prison, the more elaborate and larger the tattoo, the less likely other inmates are to mess with you.

These days, however, more Yakuza are choosing not to get tattoos. According to Suzuki, many Yakuza regret their tattoos, with the main reason being "bathing." Yakuza often bond by bathing together, but as more public baths across Japan have banned people with tattoos, they are losing places where they can bathe.

A male cast member 'Tsuchan' from the Japanese Netflix show 'Bad Romance' is seen writing a love letter to someone he is interested in. Netflix.

Even the State Regulates Yakuza... Japan's Anti-Yakuza Laws

The official term for Yakuza in Japan is "organized crime group." The term "Yakuza" actually comes from Japanese card gambling. If the sum of three cards is 10 or 20, it counts as zero points, and the combination of 8, 9, and 3 is an example of this. Just as these cards are useless, the term "Yakuza (八九三)" came to refer to people considered useless to society. Yakuza expanded their influence by managing gambling dens and shops, but in recent years, they have become involved in various crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and illegal lending. They have even been implicated in match-fixing in sports like sumo wrestling.

As a result, Japan has enacted "Anti-Organized Crime Group Exclusion Ordinances." The police crack down on crimes committed by these groups, seize illegal weapons, and regularly arrest members to reduce their numbers. In fact, the Public Safety Commissions of Japan's prefectures designate 22 national groups as "designated organized crime groups." These groups are subject to special police surveillance and face disadvantages in various official procedures, including administrative matters. There is even a "five-year rule" for anti-social forces, meaning that anyone who has left a group but has not been out for at least five years is treated the same as current members. This demonstrates just how many penalties have been put in place to eradicate them.

Promotional poster for the "Anti-Yakuza Ordinance" announced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It urges people to avoid involvement with the organized crime groups known as "Yakuza." Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Biker gangs are no exception, as they are closely linked to organized crime groups and the Yakuza. Japanese police explain, "Yakuza often recruit boys from delinquent groups like biker gangs to expand their power and secure funds. In fact, Yakuza frequently intervene to resolve traffic accidents or fights that occur during biker gang activities, highlighting their close relationship."

Because of this, both in Japan and Korea, there has been debate over whether the program is effectively glamorizing criminals. On Japanese social media, reactions are divided, ranging from "Wouldn't it be embarrassing if the world thought this was Japanese culture?" to "There have already been plenty of movies and dramas about Yakuza. It's not public broadcasting, it's just on Netflix, so what's the problem?" In reality, since these are people whom Japanese society has long tried to exclude, it is understandable that some viewers are uncomfortable seeing them suddenly portrayed as attractive characters. However, if you watch the show with an understanding of the context and reality, you may be able to appreciate it from a different perspective.