Why are Yakuza called that?

Yakuza, also called bōryokudan or gokudō, Japanese gangsters, members of what are formally called bōryokudan (“violence groups”), or Mafia-like criminal organizations. read more

That word has come to signify something that is useless or worthless. Thus, gamblers and other rabble have come to be called "yakuza". There are other explanations on the Japanese Wikipedia article, but the one I posted above seems to be mostly the accepted one. read more

This is called kobun, literally “child role.” Yakuza have a complex leadership structure, and there are many layers one must progress through to reach the top. The initiation ritual for a new recruit is a ceremony based around sake, known as sakazukigoto. read more

Many yakuza syndicates, notably the Yamaguchi-gumi, officially forbid their members from engaging in drug trafficking, while some yakuza syndicates, notably the Dojin-kai, are heavily involved in it. Some yakuza groups are known to deal extensively in human trafficking. The Philippines, for instance, is a source of young women. read more