Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: title

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Tozama

外様 外様大名
alternative words: Tozama daimyo
keywords: title , war lord
related topics: Daimyo , Edo period , Battle of Sekigahara , Koku , Fudai , Tokugawa Ieyasu , Sengoku period
explanation: Title given to daimyo during Edo period. They had allied to Tokugawa family since Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Many had been competitors of Tokugawa Ieyasu during Sengoku period before he unified Japan. Though Tozama controlled large domains such as Maeda of Kaga with 1 million koku and Shimazu of Satsuma with 0,7 million koku, they were not allowed to participate to Edo shogunate's cabinet.

Yakko


alternative words: Nuhi
keywords: title
related topics: Edo period , Ritsuryo system , Daimyo , Hatamoto , Gokenin
explanation: Phonetic deformation of Iekko, i.e. "house children ", it designated initially house servants of a nobility and called "nuhi" in Ritsuryo system. With a rise of samurai clans, they became servants of high ranking samurai and transported their weapons and personal affairs. During Edo period, they walked at the top of a daimyo's cortege in order to free the street, by crying and dancing (Yakko odori). Hatamoto yakko designated a group of ruffians, prot�g� of hatamoto or gokenin.

Yakuza

やくざ 暴力団
alternative words: Organized crime, Gangster, Mafia
keywords: title
related topics: Edo period , Samurai , Bushido
related web sites: http://www.web-sanin.co.jp/gov/boutsui/mini00.htm , http://www.web-sanin.co.jp/gov/boutsui/index.htm , http://www1a.mesh.ne.jp/BOUTSUI/
explanation: Yakuza appeared first during Edo period in Kanto area where farmers could get easily other jobs due to a development of money based economy. Yakuza's law has been strongly influenced by samurai code (Bushido) of that period such as "oyabun-kobun" (suzerain and vassal) and "giri-ninjo" (owed and sympathy). Recently, yakuza's activity is switching to economic crime and drug distribution from gambling and prostitution. Yakuza means "8-9-3", a popular card game of Edo period.

Yokozuna

横綱
alternative words: Great sumo champion, Great sumo champion wrestler
keywords: sumo , title
related topics: Sumo , Akebono Taro , Musashimaru Koyo , Shimenawa
explanation: Highest rank of professional sumo wrestlers nowadays, but initially it was not so. During Edo period, when the best sumo wrestlers made a show before shogun, they wore a special champion belt (shimenawa). Yokozuna is the name of this belt. It has become officially a rank of sumo wrestlers since 1909. Contrary to other ranks, Yokuzuna never goes down to a lower rank. The only possibility when he loses too many matches is a retirement from the profession.

Yoriki

与力
keywords: title
related topics: Edo period , Machi bugyo , Gokenin
explanation: Literally "helper", during Kamakura and Muromachi periods, it had designated samurai who assisted daimyo or superior commanders. During Edo period, it designated middle ranked samurai who assisted machi bugyo to deal with each criminal or judicial affairs, something comparable to nowadays police captains or superintendents. In Tokyo, they were chosen among gokenin and there were 50 yoriki. The assistants of yoriki were called "doshin".

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