Japanese Tattoo History, Irezumi, Horimono, Ukiyo-e and Meji

Japanese culture has had many influences over the times, and during each of these periods tattoos have featured and conveyed very specific messages, status and a mark of belonging. The west has a fascination with Japanese designs and characters; the west finds them mystical and full of unknown meaning. But conversely Japanese culture generally holds a very different view on the same subject, because as we will see tattoos have historically been worn by the "Less desirable" members of society

First reports 300 AD

The Ainu people were among the first to inhabit Japan and were believed to wear strong facial tattoos, but with the spread of Buddhism from China to Japan tattoos became a deviant act only undertaken by people of no virtue, how tattoos were used and their meanings changed in Japanese society forever.

Edo Period 1603 - 1868

Between 1603 - 1868 Japanese Tattooing was only practices by the "ukiyo-e" (The floating world culture). Prostitutes used tattoos to communicate their status, firemen and manual workers also wore tattoos.

Between 1720 - 1870 Criminals were tattooed as a visible mark of punishment, this actually replaced having ears and noses removed! A criminal would often receive a one ring on their arm for each crime committed and so easily conveying their criminality. This practice was eventually abolished by the "Meji" government who banned the art of tattooing altogether, viewing it as barbaric and unrespectable

As you can probably imagine, this forced a sub culture of criminals and outcasts, many of whom were the old Samurai warriors ("Ronin"- Master less). These people had no place in "decent society" and were frowned upon, they were kept separate and simply could not integrate into mainstream society because of their obvious visible tattoos, this forced them into criminal activities which ultimately formed the roots for the modern Japanese mafia "Yakuza" for which tattoos in Japan have almost become . Again the has not helped the Japanese view of tattoos

Meji and Post War Tattooing - 1948

The Meji government banned the barbaric act of tattooing as it was deemed uncivilised, but ironically the arts and styles lived on by the many requests from foreign sailors trading in the region, this has the effect of introducing these designs to the world!

The Japanese tattoo ban was finally lifted in 1948, thought to be a way of legitimising the act of tattooing as it was already an underground industry of its on servicing foreign visitors.

Recent times

There is now a generation gap in views with older members of the society still holding traditions and old values as important, whilst the younger more western influenced groups steering away from the traditional view point and often using western designs, albeit in more private locations as so cannot be easily seen