Sex, Drugs and Shinto: How the Yakuza’s Only Woman Found Redemption

Sex, Drugs and Shinto: How the Yakuza’s Only Woman Found Redemption

June 9, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

The episode explores the life of Mako Nishimura, the only female member of the yakuza, detailing her journey from crime to redemption.

When Mako Nishimura, the yakuza’s only female member, fell in love with a rival gangster, it would send her on a long and painful path from drug and sex trafficking, to painkiller addiction and finally a role helping ex-yakuza go straight. Her journey would mirror the downfall of the yakuza at-large, from the world’s largest criminal gangs to social outcasts, outwitted by cops and outpaced by new, digital criminals taking over the Japanese underworld. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guest: Mako Nishimura

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: yakuza, Japanese underworld, cops, digital criminals

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