The con artists’ cunning wordplay: memorable quotes from masters of deception waging psychological warfare.
In the realm of real estate deals, there exists a peculiar breed known as “jimenshis” (land scammers).
Operating in a shadowy world often linked to organized crime, what were they thinking, and what words did they leave behind? Their famous lines as con artists intertwine the lure of money with the darker sides of human nature, leaving us with a complex aftertaste.
Here, we introduce some memorable quotes from jimenshis, also depicted in the work Jimenshitachi (The Land Scammers).
In the sayings of men who lived through the underbelly of the real estate industry, you may even sense a kind of philosophy.
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The swindlers’ cunning wordcraft: famous lines from psychological warfare unleashed by masters of deception (1–10)
When you’re just one step away from your goal, the ones who hold you back are never your enemies, but always your allies.Harrison Yamanaka
These are Harrison Yamanaka’s words conveying his mindset on what to watch out for when you’re trying to accomplish something big.
As you move toward your goal, your attention tends to focus on enemies—like competitors—but he explains that allies can just as easily hold you back.
Drawing on Harrison’s own experience, he teaches that the closer you get to your goal, the more vigilant you must be about everything.
Because you’re taking on challenges that carry the risk of fraud, it’s all the more necessary to heighten your guard.
What matters most isn’t whether it looks similar or not, but the realism.Harrison Yamanaka
These are the words in which Harrison, who chose Sasaki as the impersonator, described the qualities required for the role.
When we think of impersonation, we tend to focus on resemblance, but he explains that it’s the ingenuity that makes something feel authentic—rather than merely reproducing the appearance—that raises the success rate.
The statement reflects an understanding of the target’s psychology: people judge a person not only by looks but also by behavior.
While it conveys the theory of impersonation, it also expresses that Harrison perceives the essence of people.
The expression on a person’s face when they’re cornered is wonderful, isn’t it?Harrison Yamanaka
What kind of expression does a human show when driven to the ultimate limit, pushed to the edge? There’s a famous line in a drama delivered by Harrison Yamanaka: “The expression on a person’s face when cornered is magnificent.” In a sense, it’s a line spoken in a scene where the profound nature of a person at their most defenseless is brought fully to the fore.
It’s a line with a powerful impact, conveying psychological elements like fear and panic.
Among Harrison Nakayama’s lines, it is an especially famous one.
The cunning wordplay of land scammers: Memorable quotes from psychological warfare by masters of deception (11–20)
ad-libHarrison Yamanaka
This is something Harrison Yamanaka often said when his teammates asked him about how to do things.
At first glance it may sound like a hands-off phrase that leaves the method up to others, but it also contains guidance on how to get through unforeseen situations.
Since unexpected events can occur when moving things forward, it conveys that approaching tasks with flexibility and responding adaptively increases the chances of success.
It also suggests that, rather than deciding every detail in advance, having a plan with some leeway is important.
I will make you climax in the most physical, most primitive, and most fetishistic way.Harrison Yamanaka
These are the words Harrison Yamanaka hurled at the man who was getting in the way of a major job—words that carry a sense of eeriness and brutality.
The insertion of English words makes the line look comical on paper, but it’s infused with a wild meaning of raw, primal obsession.
It’s delivered in a scene about what to do with a traitor, and, including the method that is later carried out, it conveys just how grave betrayal is.
The choice not to stage it as an accident underscores Harrison’s cruelty, making it a scene where his brutality really comes through.
There is only one option.Harrison Yamanaka
These are the words Harrison Yamanaka hurls when he corners the detective, forcing him to confront the choices he must make.
Watching the scene, it seems like there are only two options—take his own life or be finished off by Harrison—but he deliberately narrows the choices even further.
As a way of constraining the options, he tells the detective that his family is also being held hostage, pushing him toward taking action on his own.
Because these words are delivered as a final ultimatum after presenting various scenarios, they convey an even stronger sense of despair.
That’s enough already!Yoshio Goto
These are the words of Yoshio Goto, who handles document forgery and direct negotiations in the story, skillfully manipulating indecisive buyers.
Goto is good at making his counterparts feel pressed, and he uses this line in moments of hesitation to control their emotions.
Because it’s the kind of phrase that brings a difficult negotiation to a close, its forcefulness stands out and creates a persuasive pull that makes people agree to the deal.
It’s a signature line from the work that drew attention in many ways—its brevity and clarity, and the fact that, for Kansai dialect, it’s a rather peculiar turn of phrase.