The Bosozoku are gangs of youth bikers between the ages of 17 and 20 who generally gather in the suburbs of large Japanese cities (such as in Kamonomiya, an hour and a half from Tokyo) to party boisterously or ride their motorcycles in threatening groups. Most of the time the Japanese police are unable to catch them and push them into other districts. They only succeed in arresting them when the motorcycles the gangs ride, which are usually small (125 to 250 cc) are stolen or they do not have the mandatory license or insurance (in Japan you have to be 18 to obtain a driver's license).


Although the Bosozoku are not a recent phenomenon (it started in the sixties), they are now part of an increasing rate of juvenile delinquency. The Bosozoku usually come from middle or lower class families or from troubled homes. They quit school early and many times are linked to a group of Yakuza (the Japanese Mafia) who find them a willing and easy source of manpower. All Bosozoku won't become Yakuza when they get older, but they all rebel against the strict code of order and propriety in Japanese society. They will lay on the ground in full view of all passersby to look up the skirts of school girls, eat leftover plates of food from other patrons in restaurants and will tamper with the machines in the game arcades so they can win money and prizes illegally, or provoke a scandal at the high school fair by taking all their clothes off.

Female company is rare when the gangs gather. When the Bosozoku go out to the bars, game arcades, etc it is predominantly between men and women are the brunt of jokes. In this male universe, it is surprising to see the physical closeness that goes on between the members, especially since these kids are willing and able to fight to the death to protect their role in society.

The Bosozoku gangs have many rituals and obey certain codes of honor and conduct dictated by each leader to his group. Therefore they reproduce the hierarchy of the Japanese Mafia and also the hierarchy of the Japanese society. When the chief (here dressed in white), orders them to drink, clean up or stop fighting, the young rebels with knuckles swollen from practicing Martial Arts obey like docile sheep.

One night a week, they gather and each gang wears its colors with the name inscribed on the uniform. Members of each group show distinctive look: tweezed eyebrows "Startrek" style, headbands, permed hair (like old fashioned Yakuza), or colored hair surfer style, always a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Favorite subjects of the media who provide them permanent and free publicity, the Bosozoku have given birth to a whole sub-culture. They have their own magazine called "Champ Road" and people can buy videos filmed by the members themselves during their travails.