Tattoo Taboo – A Brief History of Japanese Tattoos

Stretching back nearly 5000 years, the Japanese has a long and tangled tattoo history. For thousands of years Japan carried out traditions in ink, in between bouts of government regulation and bans. For many years, securing and legalizing the art of tattooing was an uphill battle. While many want to preserve and uphold the traditional legacy, others still view tattoos as something only for fugitives or miscreants.

Origins

Irezumi, or traditional Japanese tattooing, has existed for thousands of years and pre-dates most western tattoo culture. Ancient clay figures found in recent decades depict elaborate body arts. Considered an honor and rite of passage, men of all ages inked nearly any and every body part – including faces. The tattoos symbolized social status and bore images of spiritual importance or protection. Other historical texts note Japanese tattoos as a means of identification – specifically in regards to fallen warriors, when looters were more rampant and would ransack the deceased.

Ainu Culture

The Ainu are native people living in Northern Japan, with a culture based around their ‘hunting and gathering’ lifestyle. Their beliefs held the natural world, such as animals and plants, very sacred. They believed that tattooing was brought to earth long ago by a matronly goddess, a common ancestor of all Ainu women. Women were tattooed to celebrate this goddess, as well as create a kin-like connection to her. Women were the only ones to preform and receive tattoos in the Ainu. They would ink their faces and bodies as part of ceremonies, usually preformed by female relatives.  Ainu people fiercely fought Japanese tattoos bans to keep their religious rites.

Tattoos As Punishment

Japan has had a long, dusty battle with the act of tattooing for many years. Around the 7th century is when tattooing in Japan truly gained its negative connotations. Tattoos were associated with criminals and delinquents at that time. People caught committing crimes would sometimes be tattooed as punishment, so others would be aware of their wrong doings. These people would receive damning ink on their faces, hands and forearms. This practice faded with the end of the 7th century when tattoos once more became decorative and ornamental. This meant that criminals could now have their penalizing ink covered with more tasteful pieces, and thus be more accepted in society. However, some prisons still used tattoos to identify inmates.

Influence Of Yakuza

In Japan, members of organized crime or mafia are known as Yakuza. The origins of Yakuza are cloudy and shifty, much like their practices. Members of Yakuza participate in large and small crimes – from theft, gambling and extortion to kidnapping and murder. The majority of members served prison sentences, and were tattooed as means of identification or rank. It soon became a Yakuza custom to continue their tattoos with large and complex designs. Each design held meaning based on the person’s status and background. The rise of gang related tattoos further stigmatized the art form in Japan, even to this day with active modern Yakuza.

Filial Piety

With the rise of European colonization, Japan was not exempt from intrusive missionaries. Naturally leaders were reluctant.  Over time, Christianity was outlawed all together and Japan was declared a country of the gods under Confucianism. One of the main tenants of Confucianism is filial piety. Filial piety is the unspoken tradition of respect, loyalty and obedience towards parents or elders. This furthered the taboo of tattoos. To mark or otherwise damage the body is seen as direct disrespect of ones parents – such as tattoos.

Westernization

Hundreds of years after the first European conquests, Japan started reopening borders to the western world. With this came the outlaw of tattoos in the late 1800’s, in an effort to appear more civilized. However, tourists and foreign visitors knew about Japanese tattoos as an art form. People from all walks of life came to Japan just to leave with traditional tattoos. This in turn forced much of the industry to go underground, tattooing in secret out of fear of punishment. After WWII though, tattoos were again made legal but could only be done with a medical license. The art form would never lose the stigma in Japan though.

1900’s -2000’s

In 1948, US occupation in Japan lifted the ban on tattoos – but with strict rules. As per the Medical Practitioner’s Act, artists could only preform tattoos if they had a medical license. This act infuriated artists, as many argued that tattoos are an art form and freedom of speech not a medical proceedure. Others called for equal enforcement, as body piercers were not subject tot he same regulations. The move forced many artists to close up shop and pursue other ventures, or move their business underground. However, tattooing in secrecy is risky business. Artists found operating without a medical license were subject to hefty fines.

2015 And Beyond

Japanese officials penalized tattoo artist Taiki Masuda for tattooing at least three people without his license. The lengthy controversial trial eventually, and remarkably, acquitted Masuda of his offenses after an appeal. Tattoo artists took this as a subtle win and a glimmer of hope for their own futures. Though Masuda’s prosecutors didn’t want to give up that easily. Prosecutors once more tried to appeal his verdict of innocent. The Japanese Supreme Court sided with Masuda in a historic win. The Court stated that “tattoos require artistic skills different from medicine, and that it cannot be assumed that doctors do the act exclusively.” Separating tattoos from the Medical Practitioner’s Act.

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