Japanese and Kanji Tattoos
Japanese tattoo art has a very long and chequered history.
Tattoo art is not regarded highly for for the majority of Japanese people.For the average Japanese still considers that a tattoo is considered a mark of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) or a macho symbol displayed often by those from the lower classes.
This negative image probably stems from the days when Japanese Criminals were marked with tattoos to punish and identify them in as criminals to the rest of society.
In 1603 to 1868 Known as the Edo Period. Prostitutes used tattoos to increase their attractiveness to their prospective customers. Body tattoos were used by other parts of society i.e laborers and firemen. firemen also used the Dragon Tattoo as a charm as protection against fire.
History of Japanese Tattoos
Around 1720 the tattooing of criminals became an official punishment. The criminal would receive a ring tattoo around his arm for each offence or a character tattoo on his forehead. Tattooing criminals was continued until 1870.
This visible punishment created a new class of outcasts These men later became the founding fathers of the yakuza mafia so well established today.
The Japanese are very proficient at tattoos and their designs centre around dragons, samurai warriors and koi all important symbols to the Japanese.
Recently Kanji text has taken off, people get their own name or a statement translated into Kanji for a unique and individual Kanji Tattoo.
