Originally, unions of niwanushi, known as Shinno Associations, were formed by groups of mediators who secured spots for and looked after peddlers and travelers, but these days, most are affiliated with criminal gangs, with some 'niwanushi' completely ignoring the 'taking care of' part, which was originally the most important, and while claiming to be the 'n-th niwanushi of such-and-such society' or from 'a branch of so-and-so kumi' or 'the such-and-such family of so-and-so society,' they threaten and exclude rivals and demand gifts and money in the name of chakuto (gifts for caretakers of the area when merchants arrived, in a sign of greeting) from newly-arrived merchants seeking their services.
本来、行商人や旅人（たびにん）の場所の確保や世話をする世話人が集まって組織となり神農会と呼ばれる庭主（組合）が起こったが、現在では、そのほとんどが各地の暴力団の傘下組織となり、一部には本来一番肝心な世話することを怠って何もしない「庭主」が「○○会○代目」、「○○組分家」、「○○会○○一家」と名乗り、競合する出店を脅迫し排除したり、挨拶に来るよう呼びつけ行商人などから着到（その地区の世話人に世話になる場合、到着した際に挨拶として持っていく手土産）名目で金品をたかる組織も存在する。