Yakuza (from Japanese やくざ or ヤクザ or 8-9-3), also known as gokudō, are members of traditional organized crime groups in Japan. Today the Yakuza is the largest organized crime phenomenon in the world, as noted in the Guinness Book of Records. In Japanese legal terminology, yakuza organizations are referred to as Bōryokudan, literally "violence groups". Yakuza members consider this an insult, as Bōryokudan is a term which can be applied to any violent criminal. In the Western press they are freq ...

Including:

Yakuza - Origin and history
Yakuza - Tekiya and Bakuto Yakuza - Post-War Yakuza: Gurentai
Yakuza - Organization and activities
Yakuza - Structure Yakuza - Rituals Yakuza - Current Activities
Yakuza - Reference
Yakuza - Books Yakuza - Selected Film References

Read more here: » Yakuza: Encyclopedia - Yakuza

See also:

Yakuza, Yakuza - Origin and history, Yakuza - Tekiya and Bakuto, Yakuza - Post-War Yakuza: Gurentai, Yakuza - Organization and activities, Yakuza - Structure, Yakuza - Rituals, Yakuza - Current Activities, Yakuza - Reference, Yakuza - Books, Yakuza - Selected Film References

Read more here: » Yakuza: Encyclopedia II - Yakuza - Organization and activities

The term "Yakuza" comes from a Japanese card 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 Japanese 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, presuma ...

See also:

Yakuza, Yakuza - Origin and history, Yakuza - Tekiya and Bakuto, Yakuza - Post-War Yakuza: Gurentai, Yakuza - Organization and activities, Yakuza - Structure, Yakuza - Rituals, Yakuza - Current Activities, Yakuza - Reference, Yakuza - Books, Yakuza - Selected Film References

Read more here: » Yakuza: Encyclopedia II - Yakuza - Origin and history

Extensive body tattoos ('body suits') are commonly worn by Yakuza members. These traditional tattoos are known as irezumi in Japanese. Their size and elaborate nature show not only the wearers' affiliation, but also his ability to endure pain. Starting in the Kofun period (300-600 A.D.), tattoos began to assume negative connotations. Instead of being used for ritual or status purposes, tattooed marks began to be placed on criminals as a punishment (this was mirrored in ancient Rome, where slaves were known to have been tattooed with mottos such as "I am ...

See also:

Criminal tattoo, Criminal tattoo - British, Criminal tattoo - Japanese, Criminal tattoo - Middle Eastern, Criminal tattoo - North American, Criminal tattoo - Russian, Criminal tattoo - The four suits, Criminal tattoo - Other symbols, Criminal tattoo - Hand tattoos

Read more here: » Criminal tattoo: Encyclopedia II - Criminal tattoo - Japanese