Top: Introduction and Contents >> 6. Word origins

• Previous: 6.6. Where did the Japanese get their names for the weekdays?
• Next: 6.8. What is the meaning of the word maru in the names of Japanese boats?

6.7. What is the origin of yakuza?

The name Yakuza meaning Japanese gangsters comes from "893" (yattsu, ku, san).

This name originates from a card game called oichokabu, which is usually played with a deck of hanafuda (花札) (flower cards). (A normal deck of cards can also be used if the Kings, Queens, and Jacks are removed and the aces are regarded as 1).

A player's score in this game is decided by adding the scores on several cards and using only the smallest digit. So because 8 + 9 + 3 = 20 = 0 points, "8-9-3" means "no points". So the original meaning of yakuza was "no points" or "useless". Later, this meaning changed to "useless people" or "gambling people".

Links to more information

Hanafuda and Kabufuda

This web site explains the cards and the rules of hanafuda and kabufuda. It also has some links to other hanafuda sites with, for example, on-line games.

Wikipedia's page on hanafuda

Wikipedia has a (bad) page on hanafuda.

Edited from posts by Jack Oatmon, KATOH Motoshi and Koji Kawakami.

Copyright (c) 1994-2006 Ben Bullock

Questions? Corrections? Comments? Contact: benkasminbullock@gmail.com