This turn of events led to the creation of a cultural association between tattoos and organized crime. The increasing popularity of decorative tattoos around this period meant that punishment marks lost their meaning to some extent – plus they could be covered up by the criminal more easily with a decorative design. The practice of penal tattoos continued until the 17 th century. Ouch.įor the criminal, such branding would mean being excluded from most social circles and denied a place in a community. For example, in Hiroshima, the kanji (Japanese symbol) for ‘dog’ would be gradually tattooed on a criminal’s forehead, with each line of the symbol representing a different crime. These markings took various forms across different prefectures. In some areas, they became something of a form of punishment for criminals: a visible and lifelong branding as an outlaw. Tattoos in Japan lost their social acceptability during the Kofun period (300 AD – 600 AD). The earliest records of Ainu tattooing come from the 17 th century, and the tribe continued its tradition for at least another two hundred years – even after the government declared it illegal. They took the form of markings on the face and were symbols of both sexual maturity and religious faith. In an interesting twist, Ainu tattoos were mostly the domain of women. The Ainu tribe of the Hokkaido region is often mentioned when discussing the practice of tribal tattoos in Japan. They served to mark the tribe one belonged to and the individual rank held within that tribe. The country’s history, therefore, is irrevocably tied to tattoos.Īs with most other cultures, Japanese tattoos were originally of tribal significance. Interestingly, the oldest written record which mentions Japan, dating back to the third century AD, already mentions tattooing. Though there’s little agreement among historians as to when tattooing first became a practice in Japan, we do know for sure that it’s been around for over 2000 years. As a matter of fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

Japanese tattoo art is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful and intricate in the world – you could therefore expect Japan to be proud of its achievements and heritage in this area. Keep reading for a complete guide to Japanese tattoos, and don’t forget to check out our huge gallery of stunning designs. There’s even a method of tattooing specific to Japanese tattoo art! Japanese tattoos not only look incredible but are also imbued with a range of meanings and have a long and complex cultural history and significance. Large, detailed, and colorful, they feature a highly particular drawing style and several common symbolic elements. Traditional Japanese tattoos, also known as Irezumi, represent the most recognizable and impressive styles in tattoo art.

Traditional japanese spiral tattoo