Kabukimono

The "kabuki-mono" were a group that dressed in a somewhat strange, peculiar style and spoke in a vulgar, specialized vernacular which matched their often outrageous behavior.

Kabukimono (傾奇者 (カブキもの)) or hatamoto yakko (旗本奴) appeared in Japan, between the end of the Muromachi era (AD 1573) and the beginning of the Edo period, (AD 1603). Kabukimono is often translated into English as 'strange things' or 'the crazy ones', believed to be derived from kabuku meaning 'to slant' or 'to deviate'. They were masterless or wandering samurai or ronin, or men who had once worked for samurai families who, during times of peace, formed gangs.

Kabukimono would often dress in flamboyant clothing, combining colors such as yellow and blue, and often accessorizing by wearing kimonos meant for women as cloaks, or velvet lapels. Kabukimono also often had uncommon hairstyles and facial hair, either styled up in various fashions, or left to grow long. Their katana would often have fancy hilts. It is also said that Izumo no Okuni borrowed heavily from the style and the personality of the kabukimono when she first started performing in Kyoto, which eventually led to the creation of the classical Kabuki theatrical form.

Kabukimono were often very violent and rude, doing things such as not paying at restaurants and stealing money from townsfolk. Cases of cutting down people simply to try a new sword, or large incidents of violence were common in areas where kabukimono could be found, in large cities such as Edo and Kyoto. Wrestling or dancing in the streets were also common. The peak of kabukimono activity was during the Keichō period (1596–1615), although also during that time, the bakufu (shogunate) became more strict, and the kabukimono faded away.

It is thought that the modern yakuza originated from groups of kabukimono; though other scholars believe that the yakuza origins are to be found in the machi yakko (町奴), a form of private police.