Yakuza
/jɑːˈkuːzə/noun
A member of a Japanese organized crime syndicate.
Did you know?The name yakuza comes from a losing gambling hand in oicho-kabu, where 8-9-3 adds up to 20 and is worthless, making the term a self-flung insult that became the label for Japan’s underworld.
Etymological Timeline
Edo period
Japanese
やくざ (yakuza)
“A worthless person; later, a gangster or underworld member”
Edo period
Japanese
8-9-3 (ya-ku-sa)
“A losing hand in oicho-kabu, treated as worthless”
19th Century
Japanese
やくざ者 (yakuza-mono)
“A worthless fellow; a rogue or gambler”
20th Century
English
yakuza
“A Japanese organized crime syndicate member”