Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter

Like the title said I really wanted to like this book and some parts of it were genuinely interesting.I think I bought it thinking it was going to me more focused on the Yakuza, when in reality it's almost solely focused on the authors personal relationships and the abuse she went through from men in her life.That being said its not a bad book at all and I'm sure other will enjoy it more than I did.

It is an intriguing book: The rare insight into the family life of an ultimately failed yakuza boss. His daughter is a very brave woman. Yet she screwed up her youth with a lot of drugs and deliquency. In conformist Japan this stigmatises her for life. Still she very open about her experiences, which at least for some time made her a minor media celebrity in Japan. Her spectacular body art looks very sexy (and is reproduced at least in parts within the book), but one cannot help but hoping that she and her young daughter will get out this early biographical mess safely before long.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, would definitely recommend it. I really feel for Shoko although admire her determination through her struggles to blossom into the lady she has become.

A bit disappointed in this book and agree with other reviewers who have given only a few stars for their reviews. The writing style was very immature - it was a bit like asking a child to write down what they have done in a particular day or week. Very much the style of I did this, I did that, this happened, that happened etc. In addition, although undoubtedly she's had a difficult life - many of her troubles were brought on by mixing with unstable, off the wall people at a very early age and being easily led astray. As the old saying goes "if you play with fire expect to get burned". I know people say that all youngsters mix with the wrong types and are led astray but I have to say that the majority don't and aren't. Given that her father belonged to the Yakuza - she seems to have had a reasonable upbringing - particularly from her mother. Sad that she was bullied at school - but there again loads of children are so this was nothing new.I had also hoped to learn more about the yakuza but sadly I don't know any more after reading the book than I did before.

Great book.

I'm very interested in Japanese culture and this book was an eye opener for some darker sides of the society. It was really entertaining book and I enjoyed it a lot. I would recommend this book to everyone.

What a trip. A true inspiration.

Great Book, delivery a bit long tho.