* CONFESSIONS OF A YAKUZA

   This is the true story, as told to the doctor who looked after him just before he died, of the life of one of the last traditional yakuza in Japan. It wasn’t a "good" life, in either sense of the word, but it was an adventurous one; and the tale he has to tell presents an honest and oddly attractive picture of an insider in that separate, unofficial world.

    Bob Dylan indirect connection:

   It was reported that some lines from the 2001 album “LOVE AND THEFT” were "borrowed" from the book for songs. Some examples appeared in an article published in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8 July 2003, which indicated a line from Floater ("I'm not quite as cool or forgiving as I sound") was traced to a line in the book, which said "I'm not as cool or forgiving as I might have sounded." Another line from Floater is "My old man, he's like some feudal lord." The beginning of the book contains the line "My old man would sit there like a feudal lord."

    When informed of the possibility that Dylan had lifted material from the book, Saga said he was honored that Dylan might have read and been inspired by CONFESSIONS OF A YAKUZA. He said "Please say hello to Bob Dylan for me because I am very flattered and very happy to hear this news." Dylan has admitted to quoting the lines, but claims that such quotations are done to "enrich" folk and jazz music.

By Dr. Junichi Saga, translated from Japanese by John Bester, Kodansha International 2013, 272 pages, hardcover. ISBN 9781568365046.

Thank you to Roger Golliver for this item. [0926]

Page updated on 2026-09-13