irezumi
IREZUMI in Modern Japanese Tattoo Art
Tattoos in modern Japan: Irezumi
At the beginning of the Meiji period the Japanese government, wanting to protect its image and make a good impression on the West, outlawed tattoos, and irezumi took on connotations of criminality. Nevertheless, fascinated foreigners went to Japan seeking the skills of tattoo artists, and traditional tattooing continued underground.
Tattooing was legalized by the occupation forces in 1945, but has retained its image of criminality. For many years, traditional Japanese tattoos were associated with the yakuza, Japan’s notorious mafia, and many businesses in Japan (such as public baths, fitness centers and hot springs) still ban customers with tattoos.
Tattooing and other forms of body decoration and body modification, as in much of the western world, are gaining in popularity in Japan. However, Japanese young people who choose to get tattooed are most often choosing “one point” designs — small designs that can be completed in one sitting — usually in the American or tribal styles. More recently, however sanskrit Siddham script tattoos are becoming more and more fashionable.
Traditional irezumi is still done by specialist tattooists, but it is painful, time-consuming and expensive: a typical traditional body suit tattoo (covering the arms, back, upper legs and chest, but leaving an untattooed space down the center of the body) can take one to five years of weekly visits to complete and cost in excess of US$30,000.
From Wikipedia
Japanese Tattoo Art Books
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Fans of body art and tattooists looking for Japanese tattoo designs alike will find these both invaluable source books ( especially “The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbooks” should be part of every tattoo artist’s library) and fascinating collections of oriental ink design. The gorgeous Bushido is just awesome! But don’t take my word for it. Check out the fantastic reviews from other readers.{/column2}
Japanese Tattoo Art
Japanese Tattoo Art for spiritual and decorative purposes has a long history and dates back to the dawn of this nation thousands of years ago. What began as talismanic markings used as protection against harm eventually became the decorative tattoos known as Horimono. Also known as Irezumi, Japanese pictures of tattoos have evolved into a complex art.
This video gives an introduction to the origins of Horimono or Irezumi, the Japanese art of tattoos and tattooing. Keep in mind that it takes years of painful weekly sessions to complete a full body suit and costs up to $30,000 or more!
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