December 30, 2025
Katana vs. housing crisis
The sword-wielding man hired to kick squatters out of empty Oakland homes
Katana landlord justice sparks outrage, cheers, and meme-fest
TLDR: A private sword-carrying “squatter remover” is being hired to clear empty Oakland homes as police sidestep tenancy disputes. Comments split between calling him a vigilante enabled by cops and praising a hero, highlighting a broken housing system and the desperation fueling DIY evictions.
Oakland’s housing nightmare just met its meme king: James Jacobs, the self-styled katana-toting “squatter remover” behind ASAP Squatter Removal. While police and courts often punt tenancy disputes, some owners are hiring Jacobs to stake out homes, board them up, and even move in temporarily to keep squatters out. His site flashes edgy images of “dangerous squatters” (some seemingly stock or from other contexts), he leans on NDAs, and the company isn’t yet registered with the state, according to The Oaklandside. All this is playing out amid record homelessness and lots of empty houses.
The comments lit up. One top joke nailed the vibe: “While you were partying, I studied the blade,” and the thread spiraled into samurai memes. Another faction says he’s only thriving because OPD (Oakland Police Department) tacitly approves, blasting what they see as cops outsourcing evictions. On the flip side, fans cheer “Badass hero,” fed up with vacant homes and slow processes. Others question his claim that squatting is “organized crime,” asking if that just re-labels working homeless people as gangs. Frustration boiled over at the official “shrug” response—“call the sheriff”—as people argue this is what happens when a city has thousands unhoused yet homes sit empty. In short: it’s swords, sarcasm, and a very real housing crisis colliding.
Key Points
- •ASAP Squatter Removal, run by James Jacobs, offers private squatter-removal services in the Bay Area as an alternative to slow eviction processes.
- •The company uses surveillance, boarding up properties, and temporary occupancy to remove and deter unauthorized residents, with readiness for confrontations.
- •A cottage industry of similar firms exists in California, including Squatter Squad in Southern California, many formed in recent years.
- •ASAP’s marketing uses provocative images reportedly sourced from documentaries, stock sites, and media; Jacobs promotes having a Yelp presence.
- •The outlet confirmed one recent Oakland job and reviewed videos, but other claims lack documentation; ASAP is not registered with the California Secretary of State, per the report.