Yubitsume

Yubitsume is when you cut of one of your fingers and send it to the Kumicho. This is done as an apology for disobedience. It can be done to expiate a wrongdoing but can also be done to spare one of your "children".

When you have done something that your Kumicho dislikes you take a sharp item, cut of a fingertip,wrap it in paper and send it to the Kumicho and begs for his forgiveness.

If it's the first time you cut of the little- fingertip there after it becomes the next   little-finger and so on. Because of that you see yakuza- members that are without several of his fingers.

This helps often at wrongdoings, but if you done something all to seriously, as e.g betray the entire clan, there´s nothing that helps you from to become executed.

The manner comes originally from Bakuto. If a gambler couldn´t pay back a debt or something alike, the persons tip of the little- finger got cut off, which damage the hand somewhat. This did in its turn that the person in question not could hold his sword equally well as before. In that way other people could see if a person havn´t paid a debt, which could bring certain problems, since gambling always been prohibited in Japan.