The Yakuza The Japanese Crime

Syndicate

By: Garrett Gallinot

Origin of the YakuzaWhere it’s name is derived

from The word Yakuza can be broken into the three characters YA KU-ZA, Ya meaning 8, Ku meaning 9, and Za meaning 3. It comes from the Japanese card game Oicho-Kabu (played with hanafuda or kabufuda cards), a game much like Black Jack. The goal is to reach 19 without going over. The worst hand n the game is an 8, 9, and 3 “ya-ku-

sa,” giving the holder a total hand of 20.

Why the name Yakuza??

Yakuza chose this name because the ya-ku-sa hand requires the most skillat judging opponents, strategy, etc. aswell as the most luck, to win. The name was also used because it signified bad fortune, presumably for anyone who went up against the group. They classified themselves almost as societies misfits

Other Common Names for the Yakuza

• The Yakuza is also known as Gokudo.

• In legal terminology, the Yakuza groups are referred to as Boryokudan, literally meaning “violence groups.”

• In Japanese counting, 8, 9, and 3 can be read hachi-kyu-san, which the Yakuza are sometimes called in Japan today

This is a kabufuda deck, which is one of the decks Oicho-Kabu is played with

Kabuki-mono• The origin of the yakuza dates

back to 1612, when men known as kabuki mono became known by authorities. Kabuki mono translates to the crazy ones.

• Their odd clothing style, distinctive haircuts, bad behavior and carrying long sword did that they got everybody's attention, fast.

• Kabuki-mono had a bad habit to harass and terrorize everyone in their surroundings. They could go as far as cutting down people for pure pleasure.

Who were these people?• Kabuki-mono had been the shoguns samurais.  But,

because of the time of peace in the Tokugawa period, when Ieyasu (below) united the country of Japan, they were forced into unemployment. They were known as master less samurais, also called ronins. They began to wander around in Japan as band of robbers, pillaging villages and smaller cities. 

• Something that was remarkable, though, was their loyalty to each other. They protected each other regardless against menace, even if it meant to go against their own family.

Machi-YakkoCity Servants

• While some people view the Yakuza as offspring to the Kabuki mono, they

view themselves, rather, as offspring of the machi-yakko.

These men were the men who took a stand against the kabuki mono. They were ordinary citizens with professions like storekeepers, tavern owners, homeless warriors, and a few ronins.

Machi-yakko were also skillful hazard gamblers. Like todays Yakuza, they grew very close and loyal to one another and their leader.

The Robin Hoods of Japan• The machi-yakko soon became heroes by the

citizens of Japan and praised for their help against the Kabuki-Mono.

• The machi yakko were untrained and ill-equipped to fight the Kabuki-Mono, making them underdogs. This status made them even more loved by the people and are common heroes of Japanese fantasy and literature.

The Modern Yakuza

• The modern Yakuza appeared mid-17th Century. Their main members at the time included Tekiya (peddlars) and Bakuto (gamblers). While these names are still used for members today, there are several other categories in the present day Yakuza.

• Most Yakuza members have a similar background: Poor, criminal, misfits. The Yakuza becomes their family, helps them out with problems, and gives them attention they lacked beforehand.

• The Yakuza did not just offer companionship, but also money, status, authority, and a place where you felt important. In comparison to American gangs and suburban “thug-life,” this is a much more prestigious, rewarding life.

• Also, unlike European groups like “the mob” you do not need ties or a specific heritage to be a member of the Yakuza. It consists of many Koreans and Chinese as well as Japanese. As long as you are obedient, your membership is welcome.