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or 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 either ronin, wandering samurai, 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 accessorized by wearing short kimonos with lead weights in the hem, velvet lapels, wide obi (sash), elements of European clothing or even kimono meant for women as cloaks.〔() "Yakuza, Kabukimono, Machi-Yakko"〕 ''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, large or square tsuba, red scabbards and were usually longer than normal length. Some kabukimono even used extremely long kiseru as weapons. 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 as well as fighting with other gangs at night. 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.〔Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan; 1983, Kodansha America〕 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 , a form of private police.〔 == References == 〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kabukimono」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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