The Mafia’s family symbolism parallels mainstream Japanese corporate ritual.

Evidence

“American anthropologist David Stark writes that ’… much of what appears so exotic about the gang’s organization is actually shared by many of Japan’s modern organizations.’ Stark cites the example of a Japanese bank managed under the principle of daikazoku, ‘one great family.’ In a scene reminiscent of yakuza rituals, during the company’s annual entrance ceremony, the parents of young recruits symbolically transfer the guardianship of their children to the ‘family’ hank. The new workers are given company badges that like yakuza’s, bear the company logo and list their rank and office within the organization” (Kaplan and Dubro 1986: 145). — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 951

Categorization

• XREF: Supports the reader’s framing that mafia-esque organizational forms are not deviant but continuous with legitimate institutions — a kinship-game pattern that Gambetta would read as status signaling.