Gang: Tyger Claws

Name: Tiger Claws
Territory: Primarily Kabuki and Little Japan in the Watson district of Night City
Leadership: Hiroshi “Ghost” Sato (current Oyabun)
Membership: Estimated 2,000-3,000 active members
Ethnicity/Origin: Predominantly Japanese and Asian

Primary Activities:

Organized crime (extortion, racketeering, drug trade)
Cyberware smuggling and distribution
Black-market weapons sales (especially Kendachi products)
Nightclub and bar operations (protection rackets)
Street-level enforcement and mercenary work

Gang Colors:
Primary Colors: Blue and white
Symbols: A red roaring tiger overlayed with the Tyger Claws in kanji; a pair of stylized tiger claws often tattooed or painted on motorcycles and gear.

Reputation:
The Tiger Claws are a highly territorial and organized gang, deeply rooted in traditional Japanese culture but blended with the hyper-violent lifestyle of Night City. They control much of the underworld in Watson, particularly in Kabuki and Little Japan. The gang is known for enforcing brutal discipline within its ranks, often using martial arts and melee weapons, favoring monokatanas and high-end Kendachi products. However, their growing ties to black-market cyberware distribution have given them a more dangerous and unpredictable edge.

Gang Rivalries

The Tiger Claws may be vital in Watson, but they are constantly at war with rival gangs, each vying to control lucrative smuggling routes, territory, and influence.

Key Rivalries:

Maelstrom:

Maelstrom represents everything the Tiger Claws despise: chaotic, unpredictable, and obsessed with cyberware. While the Tiger Claws focus on traditional values and honor (at least in appearance), Maelstrom has fully embraced extreme body modification, making them more machine than human.

• • Conflict Point: Both gangs compete for cyberware markets in Watson. While Tiger Claws works closely with corporations like Kendachi, Maelstrom is heavily involved in black-market ripperdoc rings and experimental cyberware. Tiger Claws sees Maelstrom as dishonorable and unpredictable, leading to constant clashes in street skirmishes and assassination attempts.

6th Street:

While 6th Street is primarily a patriotic gang with roots in the New United States, they’ve been expanding their operations into cyberware smuggling and mercenary work, putting them in direct competition with the Tiger Claws.

• • Conflict Point: Territory in Santo Domingo and cyberware distribution channels. 6th Street runs a tight, aggressive operation, while the Tiger Claws favor intimidation and extortion. This leads to clashes over market control. 6th Street sees the Tiger Claws as foreign invaders, while the Tiger Claws consider them a threat to their growing influence in Night City.

The Mox:

The Mox and Tiger Claws share a bitter history, particularly around Lizzie’s Bar in Kabuki. The Mox sees themselves as protectors of sex workers, while the Tiger Claws are notorious for exploiting them in their brothels and clubs.

• • Conflict Point: The Mox works to protect sex workers and oppose the Tiger Claws’ exploitation of women, leading to numerous violent clashes. The Mox has been trying to push the Tiger Claws out of parts of Watson, particularly in the red-light districts, but the Tiger Claws’ influence remains deeply entrenched.

 

Reputation in Night City

Strengths:

• The Tiger Claws have a fearsome reputation in Night City. They are known for their discipline, brutal enforcement, and efficient operations. However, they are not as chaotic as other gangs, often resembling a highly organized syndicate rather than a street gang.
• Their close ties with Kendachi Industries give them access to advanced weapons and cyberware that other gangs can only dream of, solidifying their position in the black-market arms trade. [li[Their cultural emphasis on honor and loyalty makes them a tight-knit group that can mobilize quickly. They are known to punish traitors or defectors severely.

Weaknesses:

• Their rigid structure can be a weakness when dealing with more flexible and chaotic rivals like Maelstrom and The Mox. These gangs exploit the Tiger Claws' predictability.
• Their exploitation of women and involvement in sex trafficking has earned them numerous enemies, particularly from groups like The Mox and various vigilantes in Night City.
• Their growing reliance on black-market cyberware testing (through their deals with Kendachi) has tarnished their reputation as honorable warriors, making some of their more traditional members uneasy.

Overall Perception:

• · The Tiger Claws are seen as ruthless and efficient, but they walk a dangerous line between honor and the cyberware addiction that grips so many other gangs. Their growing reliance on tech (courtesy of Kendachi) is starting to change their perception from a gang focused on martial prowess to one embracing the technological enhancements they once despised.

Ranking Amongst the Gangs of Night City

Regarding overall influence, the Tiger Claws are one of the top mid-tier gangs in Night City. They aren’t as omnipresent as the Maelstrom or Tyger Moth, but they control some of Watson's most essential and profitable operations and are slowly expanding their reach.

· Top-Tier Gangs:

• • Maelstrom, The Animals, Voodoo Boys, Valentinos • These gangs have significant influence across multiple districts of Night City, have many members and resources, and are usually the most feared.

· Mid-Tier Gangs (where Tiger Claws rank):

• • Tiger Claws, 6th Street, The Mox, The Wraiths • These gangs hold sway in their territories but don’t have the same widespread dominance as top-tier gangs. However, they often have corporate ties (as Tiger Claws have with Kendachi) or a significant presence in specific sectors like the arms trade, drugs, or territory.

· Low-Tier Gangs:

• • Scavs, Slaughterhouse, The Freaks • These smaller or niche gangs focus more on specific criminal activities or have a limited geographic scope. They are often more chaotic and less organized. Key Strengths:

· Territory Control: The Tiger Claws dominate Watson and firmly grip key smuggling routes. · Corporate Connections: Their ties to Kendachi give them access to tech and weapons that most gangs can’t afford, making them a dangerous and well-armed force. · Martial Discipline: Unlike other gangs that rely on brute force or cybernetic enhancement, the Tiger Claws maintain a traditional martial arts culture, which makes their members deadly in close quarters.

 

Complications and Threats Facing the Tiger Claws

· Internal Factional Struggles:

• • Internal factions have emerged as the gang embraces more cyberware (due to their ties with Kendachi). The old guard, which values discipline and tradition, is clashing with newer members who embrace cyberware enhancements and see it as the future of combat. This ideological rift threatens to destabilize the gang’s unity.

· Kendachi Influence and Control:

• • As Kendachi continues to use the Tiger Claws as field testers for illegal cyberware, the gang becomes more dependent on corporate support. Some within the gang feel that they’re becoming pawns of Kendachi, losing their autonomy and traditional values. The corporate influence is both a boon and a ticking time bomb.

· Law Enforcement Pressure:

• • NCPD and MaxTac have started to take more interest in the Tiger Claws, especially after several high-profile attacks and assassinations tied to cyberpsychosis caused by experimental cyberware. This increasing heat from law enforcement could force the Tiger Claws into a corner, either going underground or escalating into open warfare.

· Gang Wars Brewing:

• • With Maelstrom encroaching on Watson and 6th Street expanding its influence, a gang war could be on the horizon. The Tiger Claws are being squeezed from all sides, and their current control over Watson is being challenged. How they respond—diplomacy or violence—will shape their future in Night City.