Job listing that sounds too good to be true? Well, it probably is. In recent years there’s been a surge of yami baito, shady jobs that promise a high pay for little work, no experience, etc, but it’s actually bait to get people into illegal activities. What do they want? Who’s at risk? What’s being done to prevent this? Let’s chat more about it.
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com
Frankie - @franklinthewoman
Cheyenne - @lostwithlow
Words mentioned/useful words
闇バイト yami baito - scam/shady/underground/illegal job
バイト baito - part-time job
お疲れ様 otsukaresama - you worked hard
おいしい - yummy, delicious
~市 ~shi - city
匿流 'tokuryu' - a term coined by Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) to describe a new and growing form of loosely organized criminal groups that have emerged as an alternative to traditional yakuza organizations
匿名 tokumei - anonymous
流動 ryūdo - fluid
日払い hibarai - daily payment
References:
Notice from the NPA: https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/safe_society/law_violations/index.files/Shady_part_time_job_English.pdf
Gaijin Pot PSA: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/beware-of-yami-baito-shady-part-time-jobs-targeting-foreigners-and-students-in-japan/
“NPA warns public to avoid overseas yami baito offers” (Asahi Shinbun):
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15636994
“Crimes by 'tokuryu' anonymous groups pose serious issue in Japan”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/24/japan/crime-legal/tokuryu-poses-problem-for-police/
“Foreigners forced to work in Myanmar-based fraud rings” (NHK): https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3828/
“Police protected yami baito applicants in 125 cases” (Japan Times) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12/06/japan/crime-legal/dark-job-police-protection/
Yami Baito Reddit Stories
1. “Weird experience not sure what to do” https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1i9r5po/weird_experience_not_sure_what_to_do/
2. “Does anyone know much about yami baito?”
https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1hg822m/does_anyone_know_much_about_yamibaito%E9%97%87%E3%83%90%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88/
3. “Baito that pays cash same day” (short post, wanna read for funny comments)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Tokyo/comments/15m76cd/baito_that_pays_cash_same_day/
Time stamps
00:00 hello/life updates
8:45 intro to baito/part-time jobs
13:07 baito experience in Japan
15:25 what is a yami baito?
18:16 notice from the NPA
20:33 overseas trafficking
24:06 who is running these scams
29:14 what are the govt & police doing
31:20 are foreigners targets too?
37:44 yami baito examples
40:45 recent cases
41:44 staying safe