yakuza
Tokyo crime families
Yakuza refers to organized crime syndicates in Japan, or a member of such a group.
Similar to the Mafia, yakuza organizations are hierarchical, involved in gambling, extortion, and other illegal enterprises, though they have historically operated semi-openly in Japanese society.
The word can be singular or plural: a yakuza boss, the yakuza control this district.
Obtaining through threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- protectionGuarding against harm
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
gambling · loan sharking · blackmail · fronts · kickbacks · corruption · prostitution · trafficking
Related group sharing ancestry
- syndicateCombined group pursuing shared interest
- familyRelated people together
- bossWorkplace superior
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
soldier · associate · enforcer · hierarchy · territory · turf · faction · chapter
High regard, moral dignity
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- dutyRequired moral task
respect · silence · omerta · faithfulness · devotion · solidarity · commitment · obedience
Knightly code of honor
- antiheroesMorally ambiguous main characters
- filmsProjected motion pictures
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- outlawFugitive from justice
romanticism · nobility · underdog · code · folklore · legend · notoriety
Permanent dermal design
- bodysuitClose-fitting one-piece garment
- backpieceTattoo covering the back
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- koiOrnamental pond carp
cherry blossom · sleeve · traditional · full-body · peony · tiger · phoenix · waves
After hostilities end
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- outcastsRejected, excluded people
- gamblersThose who bet
- peddlersMobile small-scale merchants
Formal admission ceremony
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- swearing-inOfficial oath-taking ceremony
- oathFormal binding promise
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
atonement · expulsion · pledge · tradition · apology · submission · banishment
extortion
Obtaining through threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- protectionGuarding against harm
smuggling · gambling · loan sharking · blackmail · fronts · kickbacks · corruption · prostitution · trafficking · debt collection
clan
Related group sharing ancestry
underboss · soldier · associate · enforcer · hierarchy · territory · turf · faction · chapter · recruitment
honor
High regard, moral dignity
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- obligationRequired task or commitment
duty · respect · silence · omerta · faithfulness · devotion · solidarity · commitment · obedience · discipline
chivalry
Knightly code of honor
- antiheroesMorally ambiguous main characters
- filmsProjected motion pictures
- mangaJapanese comic medium
outlaw · romanticism · nobility · underdog · code · folklore · legend · notoriety
tattoo
Permanent dermal design
- bodysuitClose-fitting one-piece garment
- backpieceTattoo covering the back
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
koi · cherry blossom · sleeve · traditional · full-body · peony · tiger · phoenix · waves · chrysanthemum
postwar
After hostilities end
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- outcastsRejected, excluded people
- gamblersThose who bet
peddlers · festivals · reconstruction · expansion · crackdown
initiation
Formal admission ceremony
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- swearing-inOfficial oath-taking ceremony
- oathFormal binding promise
penance · atonement · expulsion · pledge · tradition · apology · submission · banishment
- criminal groupsgang, mafia, cartel, mob, syndicate
- global crimehuman trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, terrorism, money laundering
- Japanese societysamurai, daimyo, shogun, ronin, geisha
- nonstate actorsmilitia, insurgent, rebel group, guerrilla, paramilitary
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
- secret organizationscabal, secret society, secret societies, conspiracy, spy network
yakuzapolice
Civil law enforcement
law enforcement · judge · samurai · government official · public prosecutor
yakuzaCosa Nostra
Sicilian criminal organization
- yakuza bossJapanese organized crime chief