Their power is declining due to strict anti-gang laws passed in the 1990s and 2010s. Membership has dropped from a peak of over 180,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 10,000 active members today. 2. Video Game Guide: Yakuza / Like a Dragon
Full-body tattoos that were historically a test of strength and a sign of being an outcast. yakuzza
They use a patriarchal "oyabun-kobun" (father-child) relationship. Lower-ranking members ( kobun ) pledge absolute loyalty to their boss ( oyabun ). Key Rituals: Their power is declining due to strict anti-gang
The three largest groups as of 2025 are the Yamaguchi-gumi (the largest), Sumiyoshi-kai , and Inagawa-kai . Video Game Guide: Yakuza / Like a Dragon
The name comes from a losing hand in the card game Oicho-Kabu : 8 ( ya ), 9 ( ku ), and 3 ( sa ), which totals 20 and equals a score of zero—literally meaning "good for nothing".
If you are looking to start the Sega-developed game series, it is known for blending intense crime drama with absurdly funny side activities like karaoke and bowling.
The ritual of cutting off a finger joint (usually the pinky) as an apology for a mistake.