Tebori, the art of hand-carving.

Japanese-style tattoos have become increasingly popular in the Western world with bold colors, dragon tattoos, koi fish, and beautifully painted scenes of nature. However, this tattoo style has been a part of Japanese culture for thousands of years. Even though Japanese tattoos have become more common, Japan’s long history with tattoos has led the country to be less accepting of them. This is because tattoos were widely perceived as a negative practice that marks criminals. So what is Japanese tattooing, and how has it affected modern-day body art practices?

What is Japanese Tattooing?

Japanese tattooing, or Irezumi, is a permanent body art that is based on traditional Japanese motifs from mythology, natural elements, religion, and historical characters. These tattoos are best known for their symbolism and contrasting bold colors with a dynamic, detailed look.
Traditional Japanese tattooing was called Tebori, which means hand-carved, and needles with ink were attached to a bamboo tool called a sashibo to engrave the ink. While most tattoo artists today use a tattoo machine, you can still find a few tattoo artists specializing in Tebori.    

History

The earliest written record of Japanese tattooing was in 297 AD, in China’s first history book, where tattoos were considered barbaric. As China and Japan heavily influenced one another during this period, it is no surprise that Japan adopted the Chinese beliefs about tattoos. Shortly after Japanese tattoos were created, they started to be used as punishment for criminals. The tattoos were ‘carved’ into any part of the body, including the face. This punishment was used for minor crimes since they were painful and permanent. They symbolized someone the community should shame, which was also damaging to the families of the criminals. Because most criminals in Japan wore tattoos, Japanese tattoos began to be associated with organized crime.

The Effect of History on Modern Day Japan

During the Meiji era, Japan wanted to appeal modern to the western world, and in 1872 the Japanese government made tattoos illegal. Japan felt that its citizens would look more sophisticated and civilized by illegalizing tattoos.
Eventually, in 1948, tattoos became legal, but it was still highly stigmatized as an art form for criminals and gang members. As a result, many public spaces such as beaches, water parks, and pools do not permit visible tattoos. This public stigma against tattoos has led many tattoo artists in Japan to work underground, and they often have a long waitlist for those who want to get tattooed.

Japanese Style Subjects and Symbols

The Japanese-style tattoos are unique since they hold specific meanings and feelings associated with each symbol. Although there are plenty of subjects and symbols within Japanese culture to choose from, these are the most famous symbols in Japanese tattooing.
The Dragon - In Japanese culture, the dragon is seen as a symbol of strength, wisdom, and bravery. Although the symbolism is similar to that of the Chinese dragon, the Japanese dragon has three claws instead of five.
The Koi - The koi fish are a symbol of strength in the face of adversity. The symbol comes from mythology, where they swim upstream of the Yellow River, eventually reaching a waterfall called the Dragon’s Gate. Once they reach their destination, they are rewarded by becoming dragons.
The Lion-dog - The lion-dog is a traditional Japanese symbol for loyalty, defending one’s property, and standing up for one’s rights, beliefs, and causes. The lion-dog is also often seen as statues guarding temples.