A story carved in ink, sealed in blood, and whispered through steam in forgotten tea houses.

Inside the Mafia is not just a memoir. It's a descent.

Shigeru Matsuda Karao - once known as "The Raven" in Tokyo's underworld - reveals the darkest secrets of the Japanese gangster world. From cutting off his finger in a bloody yubitsume ritual, to walking through the burning ruins of Kobe, laundering money through fake insurance claims, and running illicit gambling dens, these are the hidden chapters of Japan's postwar criminal underworld.

Each story is rooted in real-life events - including the assassination of a mayor, the brutal rise of the Kudo-kai syndicate, and even a multimillion-dollar Pokémon card scam. Written in stark, poetic language, this true-crime novel blurs the lines between memory and myth, between honor and survival.

From the neon shadows of Kabukichō to the serene silence of a Zen temple in Kamakura, Matsuda reflects on betrayal, loyalty, and the cost of living by the code.