Meaning of “MildYankee(マイルドヤンキー)”

“Yankee(ヤンキー)” means bad boy/girl.
The classic image of a “Yankee(ヤンキー)” that I have in mind is someone with a rockabilly-style pompadour hairstyle, wearing a school uniform with baggy pants, smoking cigarettes, and having a tendency toward violence—often with a complicated family background—but still kind to their friends and the weak. And they like cars and motorcycles.
If you want to know more, I recommend reading some Japanese yankee manga, like “Rokudenashi Blues”.

However, these classic yankee have almost completely disappeared in recent years.

What’s more common in Japan today are “MildYankee(マイルドヤンキー)”.
“MildYankee(マイルドヤンキー)” are generally non-violent, prefer living in their hometowns instead of forcing themselves to live in big cities, and value their families and friends—they’re relatively calm young people.
They don’t really have many of the traditional “Yankee(ヤンキー)” traits, but if I had to point out some similarities, it would be that they work blue-collar jobs, value their friends, and love cars and motorcycles, I think.

Example Conversation

A: Rent’s going up, food’s getting more expensive—I’m just so done with it all.
B: Yeah, seriously. Lately, I don’t even know what I’m working for anymore.
A: I’m starting to think I’d be happier living out in the countryside as a “MildYankee(マイルドヤンキー)” rather than forcing myself to live in the city.

A: もうさー、家賃もあがるし、食料も高いし、やってらんないよねー。
B: ほんとだよ、なんのために働いてるかもうわかんないよね。
A: 無理して都会で暮らすより、地方でマイルドヤンキーやってた方が幸せなんじゃないかって気がしてきた。