With their predilection for recklessly riding round the streets late at night and rebelliously revving their engines, Japan’s bosozoku bike gangs are a nightmare for many neighbourhoods, as the youngsters manage to create a ferocious amount of noise, if not exactly fear, on their meticulously modified motorbikes.
But regardless of the disruptive din they make, such gang members are easily identifiable, as their jingoistically emblazoned jumpsuits,
and technicolour transportation, are a far cry from the far less noticeable norm.
However, despite being regularly regarded as ideal recruits for the yakuza, and as role models of sorts for teenage troublemakers, bosozoku numbers have been steadily declining of late — a crackdown by the police and the possible realisation that making a racket and running the odd red light isn’t all that revolutionary, presumably taking their toll.
Plus, when the powers that be come up with a cute and colourful campaign that, it is hoped, will herald a hiatus, it’s probably time to pack in the practice anyway.
Still, sly digs aside, the bosozoku are an interesting breed, and for a much more insightful, and indeed sympathetic, look at them, this video is well worth a watch.
Peter says
Interesting video clip – thanks for posting
Lee says
Glad you enjoyed it Peter. They are an interesting bunch aren’t they?
I hadn’t seen any for ages, but of late I’ve come across quite a number of them. Yet to me at least, they somehow seem very out of place in modern japan.
Robashito says
Bozos! Oh yeah growing up in Tokyo ( 1968-1989 ) I’ve befriended many bikers/moped’ers back in the day. Groups like Black Emperor, Specter and loads of local groups roamed the streets quite often in the 80’s. My brother who still lives in Japan says he doesn’t see as much anymore, especially in the major city areas. Most of them were actually quite friendly once you got to know them. Just a “fad” as many teenagers go thru. I’m sure a few moved on to bigger things and joined yakuza but who knows……
shinobi says
looks like fun 😀
Jamie says
Hi That video was blocked because somebody was attributing the documentary to Masayuki Yoshinaga, a photographer who is featured in my doc and whose pics you have up here. The film is called Sayonara Speed Tribes
If you want a good link to my site for video here it is:
http://figure8productions.com/bosozoku_trailer1_small.html
cheers
Figure8
Thomas Constant says
I always really enjoyed these guys when I lived in Okinawa, real interesting peeps most of the time and it was always fun to watch them run from the cops and terrorize speed traps. Definitely another one of those things i should of taken more pictures of. Unfortunately I was more into cars back then and spent all my time with the car guys.
ChrisW says
These shit-fucks are simply obnoxious and have no respect for people. I personally would love to take a fully-auto M2 Browning machine gun with incendiary rounds to all of these pre-pubescent faggots and wipe them from Japan.
Then we can live in peace and quiet and enjoy Japan the way it’s supposed to be enjoyed.
wild weasel says
we hunted Bozos with eggs in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.