Japanese Traditional

The earliest evidence of tattooing in Japan is found on clay figurines that have their faces painted or engraved with markings, these were found in tombs dating back to 5000BC and earlier.  The earliest written record dates back to 300AD.  By the 17^th Century, tattooing in Japan was mostly used to mark criminals with a variety of symbols and pictographs.  Individuals bearing tattoos were often ostracized and shunned as well as their families.  Pictorial tattoos in the 18^th century are connected to the popular Edo Culture.  Edo is the ancient name for Tokyo.  This pictorial culture, which was used in early Japanese marketing, was then translated into tattoos.  Most of these tattoos, if not all, were worn by the underworld and later became known as the Yakuza.  Traditional Japanese tattooing’s characteristics are always based on huge pieces that will take up the whole back, chest, arms & legs in one complete suit.  The images are traditionally based in Japanese mythology and also depict fauna & flora.  The palette is limited, line width is normally quite thick and due to it’s technique of hand poking groups of needles, the designs are not as sharp as tattoos with electric machines, however in the hands of masters, this style has become iconic.  Even though there has been a resurgence in this technique, most modern Japanese masters still line with a machine and then colour by hand.