<p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140719033839/http://www.jingai.com/yakuza/introduction.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Introduction to Yakuza Japanese</a> has a list of grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary (and even lessons!).</p>

<p>There's also this Japanese Stack Exchange has a question: <a href="https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/941/what-are-the-stereotypical-characteristics-of-yakuza-speech">What are the stereotypical characteristics of yakuza speech?</a></p>

<p>And <a href="http://www.japansubculture.com/resources/yakuza-terminology/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japan Subculture's terminology page</a>.</p>

<p>While Yakuza these days are mostly semi-legitimate, they still <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokaiya" rel="nofollow noreferrer">extort</a> and is the largest criminal organization in the world. Just like how there's a taboo with tattoos in Japan because they're associated with Yakuza, the same connotations come with speaking like the way Yakuza do.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-29T18:42:58.357Z
Can you tie this a little more to anime? Specifically, has (and *why has*) this language has made its way into anime?
Cattua
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-29T18:51:01.830Z
@Eric it's part of popular culture and associated with dilenquents/criminals. Outside of actual Yakuza being in the story (Gokusen, Nisekoi). Even "aniki" is used all the time to express the same sort of close relationship that would typically be used by Yakuza. There's a lot more of this on the [TV Tropes Yakuza page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Yakuza)
Jon Lin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-29T18:28:22.237Z
2015-08-18T17:21:50.613Z
2017-04-13T12:43:49.183Z
Jon Lin
<p>I was reading <a href="http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/japanese-learning-hacks/">an article on language-learning hacks</a> recently, and #13 of that list states (emphasis mine),</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Some popular anime (popular in America at least, and mostly reserved for little boys in Japan) uses the <strong>kind of language which is in the real world almost exclusively reserved for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza">Yakuza</a></strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is this statement true? What are some examples of this, and why is it done?</p>

<culture><japanese-language>
Why is it that some anime use language exclusive to the Yakuza?
# Why is it that some anime use language exclusive to the Yakuza?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-01-29
I was reading [an article on language-learning hacks](http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/japanese-learning-hacks/) recently, and #13 of that list states (emphasis mine),

> Some popular anime (popular in America at least, and mostly reserved for little boys in Japan) uses the **kind of language which is in the real world almost exclusively reserved for [Yakuza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza)**.

Is this statement true? What are some examples of this, and why is it done?
**Tags:** culture japanese-language
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-29. Score: 6
The [Introduction to Yakuza Japanese](https://web.archive.org/web/20140719033839/http://www.jingai.com/yakuza/introduction.html) has a list of grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary (and even lessons!).

There's also this Japanese Stack Exchange has a question: [What are the stereotypical characteristics of yakuza speech?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/941/what-are-the-stereotypical-characteristics-of-yakuza-speech)

And [Japan Subculture's terminology page](http://www.japansubculture.com/resources/yakuza-terminology/).

While Yakuza these days are mostly semi-legitimate, they still [extort](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokaiya) and is the largest criminal organization in the world. Just like how there's a taboo with tattoos in Japan because they're associated with Yakuza, the same connotations come with speaking like the way Yakuza do.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2014-01-29): Can you tie this a little more to anime? Specifically, has (and *why has*) this language has made its way into anime?  
> **username_1** (2014-01-29): @Eric it's part of popular culture and associated with dilenquents/criminals. Outside of actual Yakuza being in the story (Gokusen, Nisekoi). Even "aniki" is used all the time to express the same sort of close relationship that would typically be used by Yakuza. There's a lot more of this on the [TV Tropes Yakuza page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Yakuza)  
---
