yakuza
yakuza Lexical Profile
yakuza Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A network of traditional, strictly hierarchical organized crime syndicates originating in Japan, known for strict codes of conduct, elaborate body tattoos, and involvement in illicit rackets and corporate extortion.
"The sociological study examined how strict anti-gang legislation in Japan significantly reduced the financial influence of the yakuza over the past two decades."
An individual member of a Japanese organized crime syndicate.
"In classic Japanese cinema, the aging yakuza is frequently portrayed as a conflicted figure torn between personal honor and modern society."
• Rhymes for yakuza
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 'yakuza', derived from a traditional pronunciation of the numbers 'ya' (eight), 'ku' (nine), and 'za' (three), which add up to twenty—the worst possible losing hand in the traditional Japanese card game Oicho-Kabu, metaphorically meaning 'good-for-nothing'.