Yakuza

a j-panese organized crime syndicate, similar to the mafia, or the triads. they have some control of the j-panese social system, seeing as they own major things like casinos and the like. they have a strict code of loyalty and honor, which is a tradition long held by the j-panese. yakuza are usually known to have large tattoos covering their backs, chests, and arms. they are also made famous by pop culture, an example being gangster flicks done by the famous j-panese director, takeshi kitano. also, the whole cutting off of a fingertip is done by those who have angered the yakuza as a plea for forgivness. the name yakuza translates roughly to 8-9-3, one of the worst hands you can get in j-panese blackjack, where the goal is 19 instead of 21.
the yakuza is a tough, powerful criminal organizations.
yakuza (also known as gokudo) are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in j-pan. the term yakuza comes from a j-panese game, oicho-kabu (played with hanafuda or kabufuda cards). the worst hand in the game is a set of eight, nine and three. in traditional j-panese forms of counting, these numbers are called ya, ku and sa, thus the origin of the word yakuza. the yakuza took this name because the ya-ku-za hand requires the most skill (at judging opponents, etc.) and, obviously, the best luck in order to win. the name was also used because it signified bad fortune, presumably for anyone who went up against the group. despite uncertainty about the single origin of yakuza organizations, most modern yakuza derive from two cl-ssifications which emerged in the mid-edo period: tekiya, those who primarily peddled illicit, stolen or shoddy goods; bakuto, those who were involved in or partic-p-ted in gambling. during the formation of the yakuza, they adopted the traditional j-panese hierarchical structure of oyabun-kobun where kobun (lit. foster child) owe their allegiance to the oyabun (lit. foster parent). in a much later period, the code of jingi (justice and duty) was developed where loyalty and respect are a way of life. the alleys and streets of shinjuku are a popular modern tokyo yakuza hangout.
yubitsume, or the cutting of one’s finger, is a form of penance or apology. upon a first offence, the transgressor must cut off the tip of his left little finger and hand the severed portion to his boss. sometimes an underboss may do this in penance to the oyabun if he wants to spare a member of his own gang from further retaliation. its origin stems from the traditional way of holding a j-panese sword. the bottom three fingers of each hand are used to grip the sword tightly, with the thumb and index fingers slightly loose. the removal of digits starting with the little finger moving up the hand to the index finger progressively weakens a person’s sword grip. the idea is that a person with a weak sword grip then has to rely more on the group for protection—reducing individual action. in recent years, prosthetic fingertips have been developed to disguise this distinctive appearance. many yakuza have full-body tattoos. these tattoos, known as irezumi in j-pan, are still often “hand-poked,” that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and hand held tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel. the procedure is expensive and painful which can take years to complete.
yakuza is the meaning of gangster/gangsters in j-panese.
as the yakuzas stepped into the room, wielding samurai swords they standed to two sides making way for the yakuza leader, anthony fok to walk through
yakuza literally translates to “bad, crooked.” lives up to its name. unlike other underworld m-ss criminal organization, yakuza has heavy influence in j-panese politics. one example is during the ww2, when yakuza members flourished throughout asia, stealing, making brothels, prost-tution, drug sales. they were unstoppable.

even today, they have close ties with politicians, and control most of the entertainment industry and other areas.

quite a bit of percentage of the yakuza members prove to be of korean ethnicity. an explanation would be that koreans living in j-pan aren’t recognized as “j-panese” meaning that they are still subjected as aliens. therefore, socially they become an outcast. it is natural for them to join social-outcast groups such as the yakuza.
yakuza unlike other organized criminals have had relatively powerful influence in politics in j-pan, especially during ww2 when j-pan wrongfully committed crimes throughout asian nations and dutch.
j-panese mafia that has a strict code of loyalty to one another, following many ancient j-panese traditions such as the code of the samurai, even though they seem honorable they will still f-ck someone up, so if you ever meet one just walk away…they love to come in groups
the yakuza…man f-ck them lil pack travilin chinese mother…..oh jubei how’s it goin hommie you and the yakuza geetin y’all money??
the j-panese mafia. tolerated in j-panese because they own things like casinos.
man, the yakuza rock!
an asian character in the james bond series nightfire.
“oh sh-t! i was just shot by yakuza!”