Yakuza
I can't believe it's almost over. One more day, and we've made it! Anyway, happy Saturday, everyone.
ya·ku·za [yah-koo-zuh] n. (pl.) 1. a Japanese criminal organization involved in illegal gambling, extortion, gun-running, etc. 2. a member of this organization
Synonyms: there are no direct synonyms, but this organization is similar to the Mafia, Triads, Vory, Cartels, and many other organized crime groups
Etymology: traditional Japanese organized crime cartel, lit. "eight-nine-three" (ya, ku, sa) the losing hand in the traditional baccarat-like Japanese card game Oicho-Kabu. The notion may be "good for nothing," or "bad luck" (in someone who runs afoul of them), or it may be a reference to the fact that a player who draws this hand requires great skill to win.
27 comments:
Hi Matthew .. should I recognise a bent head? in submission to the Yakuza? Very interesting Y word though .. cheers Hilary
Takes me back to playing Grand Theft Auto III.
Nice tattoo. :P
Are those two soaking in Mountain Dew? Sounds like something Cassie would do.
Holy moose-poops! That's a big one...another new word!...:)JP
I didn't know this one! Interesting word to tuck away. ; )
Interesting word. Disturbing picture.
I agree. That tattoo is amazing. And I'll be sure to stay away from the Yakuza :)
I did not know this. Very cool. I wonder how far that tattoo goes? Ouch!
BTW, thank you for hosting the challenge! It's been awesome. :)
Wow, that guy's back is no longer his own. Congrats on making it through to Y. What's your Z gonna be???
Interesting pic. I have this strange attraction to stories of organized crime. The Yakuza fits the bill though I've only read 2 books on them. Never knew the name was based on a bad hand, but I guess that makes sense. If you've run into them, you're having a very bad day.
Love the tats. But these Chinese gangs are no joke. I remember when I lived in NYC's East Village, and a Chinese restaurant moved in. Well, the scuttlebutt was that they refused to cough up $$ for one gang, and the next thing you know, the restaurant owner was fatally gunned down.
Japanese mafia! I didnt know this word, so, thank you for introducing me to it.
Love the tattoo, what phenomenal work!
There's a really cool game out called Shogun 2 that is absolutely amazing. It's a strategy game that takes place in feudal Japan. I think you'd really like it.
Ooops
These gangs are really interesting to research...I hadn't heard of them before.
Ah, the Japanese hot baths. I've been to them as a child.
Great word, BUT I am way too distracted by that guys tattooed BUTT. OUCH!
Just passing through on the challenge. Thanks for the post! I can't believe tomorrow is Z. I have no idea what I'm going to post!
I guess you really show your commitment to something when you tattoo it on your butt, right?
Now there's a "Y" word I hadn't heard of before.
Happy A-Z Saturday!
Words like these really scare me. Wonder if his front has as many tattoos as his back...
Makes me think of Kill Bill for some reason.
what an interesting name for a crime group
I remember that one of the relatively early games for the original XBox was called Wreckless and was nominally a story centered around the Yakuza. Hmmm... maybe Kill Bill too? Can't remember that one.
Your post reminds me that I haven't read anything set in China or Japan for a while.
That guy must have got quite intimate with his tattoo artist...
Post a Comment