Arthur D. Murphy of "Variety" called it "a confused and diffused film which bites off more than it can artfully chew." Gene Siskel of the "Chicago Tribune" gave the film three stars out of four and called it "a special kind of gangster picture" with "an extremely complex story" and "stylish sword-fighting sequences. But don't confuse them with the boring karate chops so common in the Oriental sludge that typically fills our downtown theaters. The fighting in 'The Yakuza' is more ritualistic and more meaningful because we know who is attacking whom and why."