Yakuza -

Professional gamblers who operated in clandestine dens.

The very name "Yakuza" reflects these gambling roots. It comes from the numbers (ya-ku-sa), the worst possible hand in a traditional card game called Oicho-Kabu . By adopting this name, members identified themselves as the "worthless" or "losing" hands of society—outcasts who forged their own path. Yakuza | Law | Research Starters - EBSCO yakuza

Itinerant street peddlers who sold illicit or shoddy goods at festivals and markets. Professional gamblers who operated in clandestine dens

But the modern era is rapidly changing this ancient underworld. As of 2025, Yakuza membership has plummeted to a record low of approximately 18,800, down from a peak of over 184,000 in the 1960s. 1. Origins: From Gamblers to Outcasts By adopting this name, members identified themselves as

The roots of the Yakuza stretch back to the 17th-century . They primarily descended from two marginalized groups: