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extra='finger shortening' or otoshimae is a Japanese ritual to atone for offenses to another, a way to be punished or to show sincere apology and remorse to another, by means of amputation portions of one's own little finger. In modern times, it is primarily performed by the yakuza, a collection of Japanese criminal organizations.
Yubitsume is also a sign of surrender by the defeated in a yakuza war. The reason for this is that in Japanese swordsmanship (kendo and iaido), the sword cannot be held tightly, and the little finger's grip is the tightest on the hilt. A little-finger amputee was therefore unable to grip his sword properly, weakening him in battle and making him more dependent on the protection of his boss, and thus overall weakening the family's ability to fight in a war. As such, it can be seen as a sign of insurance of compliance with the terms of truce imposed upon the loser by the victor.
If more offenses are committed, then the person moves on to the next joint of the finger to perform yubitsume. More infractions could mean removing portions of the right little finger when no more joints of the left finger remain. In some cases, a person expelled from a yakuza gang might be required to perform the yubitsume ritual.
The finger of the yakuza directly responsible for an offense is called an shinu yubi, "dead finger", while the finger of the yakuza that is directly in charge of him is called a iki yubi, "living finger".
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