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What is irezumi? -

In Japanese, irezumi means "inserting ink." The word is used to refer to a distinctive style of Japanese tattooing.

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Inspiration behind irezumi -

Irezumi tattoos derive inspiration from Japanese folklore, religion, and mysticism. Highly colorful and elaborate in their design, irezumi first appeared as far back as 300 BCE.

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Cultural and spiritual significance -

Irezumi were originally symbols of social status and served a protective role. Such designs were also thought to have cultural and spiritual significance. 

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Negative connotations -

But over subsequent centuries, the meaning of the tattoo changed. Instead of being used for ritual or status purposes, tattoos began to assume negative connotations and were used to mark criminals as punishment. Soon, the tattoo became fashionable among "commoners" and those on the fringes of society, including gangsters and prostitutes.

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The evolution of Japanese tattooing -

It was during the Edo period (1603–1867) that Japanese decorative tattooing began to develop into the advanced art form it is known as today.

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The mythical creatures of irezumi -

The impetus for the development of irezumi as an artform was the development of the art of woodblock printing, and the release of the popular Chinese novel 'Suikoden' in 1757. The pages of 'Suikoden' brim with lavish woodblock prints showing men in heroic scenes, their bodies decorated with dragons and other mythical beasts, flowers, and ferocious tigers. The demand in Japan for the type of tattoos seen in the woodblock illustrations was overwhelming.

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Irezumi symbolism -

The most common tattoos were, and still are, koi carp, samurai, geishas, dragons, and oni, the latter a fierce-looking demon.

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Iremuzi and the yakuza -

Iremuzi, and the way it illustrates beautiful, terrifying, and mythical creatures, caught the imagination of the yakuza.

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Criminal class -

Founded in the 17th century, yakuza are Japanese organized crime syndicates. They are primarily made up of individuals drawn from the lowest classes in society, from the Tekiya (peddlers of stolen, smuggled, or illegal goods), to the Bakuto (gamblers) and the miscreants and hoodlums of the modern era.

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Gang identity -

The yakuza began to wear irezumi as a badge of honor. Similar to the complex and coded gang tattoos of today, their ink became a means to identify their allegiances and the crimes they've committed. The entire body aside from the head, neck, hands, feet, and an approximately 3-inch wide (7.5 cm) vertical line down the front of the torso is tattooed.

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Japan outlaws the tattoo -

The influence of the yakuza helped fuel perceptions of Japan as a backward nation, an image the government was desperate to eradicate. In 1868, Emperor Meiji (pictured) outlawed the use of tattoos.

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An illegal artform -

Irezumi became an illegal artform. Those seeking ink—including an enthusiastic female clientele—simply went underground to get a tattoo, openly defying the law which by the 20th century was still in place. In fact, tattooing effectively remained banned in Japan until 1948, when occupational forces decriminalized the practice.

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Turning their back on the law -

Pictured is a Japanese tattoo artist working secretly on a large scale tattoo design on the back of a woman, around 1940.

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A painful technique -

Getting a tattoo is a painful undertaking. But opting for irezumi truly tests pain-tolerance levels. All forms of irezumi are applied by hand, using bamboo handles and metal needles attached via silk thread. The tattoo artist begins with a water brush, transferring a picture chosen by the client as a first step in the tattooing design.

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Time-consuming process -

Irezumi is a time-consuming process, practiced by a limited number of specialists known as horishi. It's not uncommon for a client to visit a horishi several times over a number of years to complete the intricate design.

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Culturally influential -

The mythological creatures rendered by irezumi are culturally influential and highly symbolic. Arguably the most recognizable creature in Japanese iconography is the dragon. And the dragon, or ryu, is one of the most popular depictions in irezumi, identified as a symbol of profound blessing, wisdom, and strength.

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The devil's in the detail -

Oni are the demons and devils of Japanese art, and another irezumi icon.

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Illustrating myths and legends -

Koi, fish noted for their extraordinary lifespans, snakes, symbolic of rebirth, transformation, and the continual renewal of life, and grotesque-looking chimeral creatures of Japanese folklore can all be found illustrated on the bodies of those tattooed.

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Shinto deities -

Fujin, the god of wind, and Raijin, his rival brother and the Shinto deity of lightning and thunder, are also incorporated into the irezumi cannon.

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Viewed with suspicion -

Despite its homage to Japanese folklore and deep-rooted culture, irezumi still provokes suspicion in Japan. People with body ink are refused entry to public swimming pools, bathing spots, beaches, and often gyms, while visible body art can be harmful to job prospects.

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Still unacceptable -

In fact, this once punitive form of tattooing is still frowned upon in some regions of Japan.

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Fashionable body art -

The irony is, however, that while once the badge of any self-respecting yakuza, tattoos have fast become an icon for young Japanese fashionistas, to the shock and bewilderment of their more conservative elders.

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Art of the yakuza -

But it's with the yakuza that the most astonishing and intricately crafted examples of irezumi can still be admired.

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Sanja Matsuri Festival -

And it's during the Sanja Matsuri Festival that yakuza members proudly display their tattoos.

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Irezumi showcase -

Tokyo's most popular annual shrine festival usually takes place over the third full weekend in May.

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A rare occasion -

The festival is one of the rare times when members of the notorious yakuza gang syndicates reveal themselves to the public and allow festivalgoers to take photographs of their extravagant ink.

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Photo opportunity -

Here, a yakuza gang member strolls through Tokyo's Asakusa district during the city's colorful Sanja Matsuri Festival.

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Bare necessity -

And as for the purpose of the vertical gap down the torso mentioned earlier, it's actually done so yakuza members, when operating incognito, can unbutton their shirts without exposing any ink.

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Master tattooist -

Keeping alive the tradition of irezumi are horishi such as Japanese tattoo artist Horiyoshi III, seen here showing off his own tattoos at his studio in Yokohama, Tokyo. Horiyoshi III is considered one of Japan's greatest living tattooists and certainly one of the city's most colorful characters!

Sources: (Japanjunky) (Tattoodo) (Japan Guide) 

See also: Amazing tattoos across the world and the body

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