The article explained the historical background and changing features of the activities of traditional Japanese organized criminal groups, referring when appropriate to the special laws and ordinances enacted to prevent and counteract organized criminal activities and to protect victims and the general public. It also considered crimes committed by these groups, both inside and outside of Japan, with organized criminal groups of other nations and regions. In addition, the paper examined crimes committed by foreigners visiting in Japan, including individual cases in which the visitors committed crimes as part of a criminal group, mostly in connection with the Japanese and their native-land criminal syndicates. It considered crimes such as the mass smuggling of illegal migrants, robbery and burglary, pickpocketing, ticket swindling, and theft and transnational trafficking of motor vehicles, as well as general trends in crimes committed by foreigners. Figures