Skip to content
The Yakuza episode artwork

Oct 5, 2026 49 min

The Yakuza

from Dan Snow's History Hit

They projected themselves as fearless protectors bound by a code of chivalry, yet in their wake they left trails of bloody street duels and ritualised finger-chopping. From 17th-century dispossessed samurai turned street muggers, to powerful paramilitary bosses infiltrating national politics, the yakuza's evolution is a masterclass in criminal survival and reinvention. Andrew Rankin, author of 'Yakuza: A 400-Year History of the Japanese Underworld', joins us to uncover the dramatic rise and transformation of Japan's organised crime syndicates. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Tim Arstall. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can also email the podcast directly at [email protected]. Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™.

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

The Yakuza

0:00 49:02

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Dan Snow's History Hit?

This episode is 49 minutes long.

When was this Dan Snow's History Hit episode published?

This episode was published on October 5, 2026.

Can I download this Dan Snow's History Hit episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.