Thursday, May 20, 2010

Tattoos In Modern Japan

During the Meji period the Goverment offically outlawed and banned tattooing. This was done in an effortto make a good impression on the West. However, this offical ban did very little to stop tattooing. Forgieners started comming into the country to seek out highly skilled tattoo artists and the ban simply drove the art form of tattooing underground.
Beautiful female Japanese Tattoo Source: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/959508738_25cab454da.jpg?v=0

Beautiful female Japanese Tattoo

Then during the occuptation starting in 1945 tattoos were offically legalized. However, much of the criminal history still seems to linger on throughout today. This association with the criminal has lead much of the development of tattooing to be done underground and mainly become part of the Mafia world known as the Yakuza in Japan. In fact to this day many establishements will not allow a person with tattoos to even enter their business. Most public baths, and hot springs have ban anyone with tattoos. They feel that it willdrive fear into their customers and they will lose improtant business.
Another beautiful back piece for females, Source: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/959508932_122d09efb9.jpg?v=0
beautiful back piece tattoo for females

In the past decade or so many younger generations of Japanese have started getting tattoos. Many of them are not going witht he traditonal Japanese themes or designs. Nor are the using the traditional way of getting tattoos done. Instead they are getting more Western designs like tribal tattoos and etc. Thay also tend to favor using more westernized tattooing done with a tattoo gun and inks.