Bōsōzoku
Bōsōzoku (暴走族) (literally "Violent Running Tribe") is a
Japanese subculture very similar to
car clubs:
gangs of young men who share a common interest in designing (often illegal) modifications for
cars and
motorcycles. These modifications often include removing the silencing features so that more noise is produced. They also engage in dangerous driving, such as weaving from side to side on the road, not wearing crash helmets, and ignoring red traffic lights. Japanese police call them "Maru-So"(police code:マル走)
Among their activities is
shinai bōsō (市内暴走), which consists of driving down streets at high (illegal) speeds. It is not properly a race; mostly, it is done just for the thrill of it. With many cars (or bikes) involved, the leading one is driven by the
sentōsha (先頭車), the leader, who is responsible for the event. Nobody is allowed to overtake him. Others keep a lookout for side and rear cars/bikes. Although they do race, some groups prefer to just
bōsō, or violently run. They apply ear crunching mufflers and roll through suburbs at speeds of 5-10 miles an hour, waving imperial Japanese flags and shouting obscenities, occasionally throwing Molotov cocktails and carrying swords/spears, daring anyone to do something.
Bōsōzoku members tend to be perceived as
criminals and misfits, and they are commonly said to be recruiting grounds for the
yakuza. Very few bōsōzoku members are older than 20 as they are then considered adults under
Japanese law and can earn a criminal record. Bōsōzoku members older than 20 are considered immature and childish.
Bōsōzoku were first seen in the
1950s as Japanese youth began to see more products of industry, such as cars and bikes. The first
bōsozōku were known as
kaminari-zoku (雷族) or "Lightning Tribes".
There are
bōsōzoku clubs throughout Japan, including female bike gangs, identified by their stylish fashion and customised motorcycles. Members take part in mass rallies and have had gang wars amongst themselves. As a fashion and youth subculture,
bōsōzoku are subject to increasing state and police pressure.
Bosozokus are known to modify their bikes in peculiar and often showy ways. A typical customized bosozoku bike usually consists of an average Japanese road bike that appears to combine elements of an American
chopper style bike and a British
café racer, for example: oversized visored fenders like those found on café racers, "sissy" bars and raised handle bars like those on a chopper. Loud paint jobs on the fenders or the gas tanks with motifs such as flames or
kamikaze style "
rising sun" designs are also quite common. The bikes will often be adorned with stickers and/or flags depicting the gang's symbol or logo.
The stereotypical bosozoku look is often parodied in many forms of Japanese media such as
anime,
manga and
films. The typical bosozoku member is often depicted in a uniform consisting of a jumpsuit like those worn by manual laborers or long open coats, often white in color, usually with no shirt underneath showing off their bandaged torsos and baggy matching pants tucked inside tall, knee-length boots. The uniforms will most likely be adorned with militaristic slogans and rising sun patches. Among other items in the bosozoku attire are usually round or wrap-around
sunglasses, long headbands also with battle slogans and a
pompadour hairstyle most likely akin to the 1950s
greaser/
rocker look or perhaps because of the association with
yakuza thugs. Surgical masks are also stereotypically worn by bosozokus perhaps to conceal their indentities although these type of masks are also worn by allergy sufferers in Japan (even long before the
SARS epidemic), especially during autumn. Females are also shown dressed in a similar manner but long and often dyed hair and excessive make-up is more common among them.
*Masayuki Yoshinaga "Bosozoku". Trolley Publishers. ISBN 0-95426-483-5
*Karl Taro Greenfeld "Speed Tribes". HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06092-665-1
*
Japanese page about the bosozoku subculture (In Japanese)
*
German bosozoku tribute site (In German)(WARNING: Loud splash page sounds)
*
A documentary about the bosozoku in production*
God Speed You! Black Emperor, a 1976 documentary film about a gang of Bōsōzoku.
*
Motorcycle gang*
Biker*
Greaser*
Raggare*
Hashiriya*
Yakuza*
Drifting - many former bōsōzoku members would become involved in and some would later compete in the
D1 Grand Prix series, notably
Toyohisa Matsuda a former gang member, who wear a headband and carries a toy baseball bat, one of many typical weapon that is similar in characteristics by bōsōzoku members.
*
Akira (manga) features bōsōzoku acting in a
cyberpunk environment. An accident on a highway during a high speed ride is the starting point af the whole plot.
*
Great Teacher Onizuka*
Shonan Junai Gumi
