Japanese tattoo

Roshi Ensei a wrestler
part of the hero of Suikoden 108,
the body covered with a irezumi

Irezumi means a particular form of traditional tattooing in Japan, which covers large parts of the body or its entirety. It can extend from the neck to the bottom of the buttocks, chest and part of the forearm. Currently, irezumi, and tattooing generally is considered by a majority of Japanese in a negative way, as a mark of membership in yakuza, or a macho symbol of the lowest social classes.


History of tattooing

The tattoo is as old as Japan and its first inhabitants, the Ainu. As well men to show their belonging to a tribe or a trade than women (a mustache above the lip!) To show that they were married. The latter tradition has continued until very recently, despite its ban in 1871.

Tattoo Ainu wife

Then Buddhism came from China has gradually developed in Japan, and the tattoo was considered a barbaric act. Instead of being used for ritual or status as a representative It was therefore used to mark criminals, often with a black band on the forearm. During the Edo period (1600-1868), tattooing a new meaning, a new image. On one side there is the "prestigious" tattoo classes reserved for a little easy, decorative and ornamental, and other tattoo bandit, still practiced on criminals, a sharp increase due to an increase in population cities.

Japanese tattooed photograph
taken by Felice Beato in 1870

The introduction of a new Print Technique using carved wooden blocks and the publication of the book "Suikoden". A book about the life of brigands in good heart some of which are tattooed. Helped illustrations made ​​possible by this technique woodcut, the story is a success and a wave of demand for tattoo like the hero of the book appeared.

It was at this time that prostitutes lower classes add to their strengths a tattoo, a sign of eroticism and potentially more seller. Geishas they do not demean themselves to it to have more clients. In another genre, firefighters were also followers of the tattoo but less for aesthetics as the belief in protection against accidents of their profession. A dragon, water sign was supposed to protect them from the flames.
The association tattoo / yakuza also began at this time. Criminals and former prisoners, marked with one or more circles on the arms would have them covered by various reason to hide their past. But often, these masterless samurai or criminals without future would gather in small groups to survive. Yakuza clans were born on a small scale.

Yujo (prostituée légales) en train de se faire tatouer

With the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan opened to the West and want to show a civilized image to the world. The tattoo does not reflect the image and becomes off-the-law. The irezumi is doomed to disappear. Or not. If it is forbidden to Japanese to get a tattoo, this is not the case of foreign nationals visiting the archipelago. Thus, the sailors will perpetuate this art through their body and promote its dissemination throughout the world.

Tattooing was legalized in 1945 by the occupation forces, but has kept its image related crime. For many years, traditional Japanese tattoos were associated with the yakuza, the famous Japanese mafia, and many businesses in Japan (such as public baths, fitness clubs and hot springs) still refused customers with tattoos.

Tattooing and other forms of decoration and body change, as in many Western countries, is gaining popularity in Japan. However, Japanese young people who decide to get a tattoo usually choose designs "single point" - small designs that can be finished in one sitting - usually in American or tribal styles. More recently, however, tattoos using writing Sanskrit Siddham are becoming more fashionable.

Images are found repeatedly in traditional Japanese tattoos, and have a special meaning. Often, they have qualities or defects, or owned or desired. We can draw a parallel with Western iconography, which the eagle, a figure popular tattoo symbolizes bravery or nobility, or the heart, symbol of fidelity and honesty. In Japan, irezumi merely representations of fauna or flora, religious, heroes and folk figures.

Symbolic

Flora: 

• Peony: symbolizes wealth and good fortune; 
• Chrysanthemum: firmness and determination; 
• Cherry blossom: symbolizes the transience of life; 
• Lotus. 

Animal drawings: 

• The lion (Chinese lion) symbolizes protection 
• Tiger: One of the heroes of Suikoden was a tiger tattooed on his back. 
• Carp (usually a train to swim upstream and downstream): courage 
• the snake 

Mythological beasts: 

• dragons 
• Qilin 
• baku 
• phoenix 

Religion and Literature: 

• Characters from folklore and traditional literature as Suikoden 
• Images inspired by the prints of Ukiyo-e: geisha, samurai 
• Buddhas and Buddhist deities such as myōō Myo-ō and Kannon 
• Shinto kami (deity) as Tengu 

Backgrounds: clouds, waves, wind symbolic

The artisan tattoo

Master Horiyoshi III

The person who wants to get a tattoo must first find a traditional tattoo artist. This research may prove to be a daunting task (although it has been made ​​easier with the advent of the Internet). These artists are often surprisingly secrets and frequently presentations are made only by word of mouth.
A traditional tattoo artist forms for several years with a master. It (because it is almost exclusively men) sometimes live in the house of his master. It may spend years cleaning the studio, observing, practicing on his own flesh, manufacturing needles and other instruments required, mixing inks and meticulously copying the grounds belonging to the book of his master, before it is allowed to tattoo clients. He must master all the complex techniques required to meet the demands of its future customers. In most cases, his master give him a name tattoo, most of which include the word "horizon" (burn) and a syllable derived from the proper name of the teacher or another significant word. In some cases, the apprentice will take the master's name.