Non of that crossed my mind or dictated my outcome of getting a traditional style japanese tattoo. Most of my tattoos are because I think there cool. Yes they have meaning behind them. But if anyone ever asks me why I got this or that…..Because I think its COOL and I like it!
The Yakuza connection never really bothered me. Ive always admired japanese style tattooing, like the poster above i thought it looked “cool”. In Japan its still considered art, it just happens it has a negative perception being linked with the Yakuza. I bet there are more suited people in Japan that are nonyakuza than yakuza.
Patrick
Its just art. Few here, if any would ever be in a position where their body art would even be viewed in a relation to Yakuza affiliation. If you were to travel to Japan, any tattoos would make you stand out. But so would wearing sunglasses, being tall, and just about anything that marks you as an outsider.
I’m in the process of getting a Japanese style sleeve and could care less about the link between tattooing and the Yakuza. It’s the same thing as asking if you are worried about getting a tattoo because historically only sailors and bikers got tattooed. The imagery that is used in Japanese tattooing is cultural in that most if not all Japanese relate to it not just gangsters.
The thought crossed my mind but it wasn’t anything I cared about. Of course I’m aware that irezumi (as it is called in Japan) has a history with the Yakuza. And still you’re not allowed to visit certain bath houses, gyms or any other places where you might show some skin, if you’re tattooed. And body suits are still very common among the gangsters. However, I assume, tattoos are spreading among more and more regular people in Japan as they do in the rest of world. As little or much as you think of a tattooed westerner as a criminal or sailor you think of a japanese with tattoos as Yakuza. Although the situation is a bit different in Japan because of the Yakuzas impact on society in genereal, but see it in a greater picture. But this is just facts that I feel people interested in getting irezumi should know prior to their inking, it’s not exactly deep research.
And as westerner I’m even less concerned. Tattoos or not, I’m probably going to be concidered a stupid foreigner/tourist if I visit Japan anyway 🙂 (even though my sleeve follows a traditional pattern done by one of the worlds acknowledged finest artists outside of Japan). However I would take it easy showing it off in at first just to get a feeling. But that’s more like common sense and custom behaviour. I wouldn’t add ketchup to sushi either so to speak. Although I’ve heard, from my tattooer, that showing up as a westerner with a lot of tattoos generally gets a good response. People look at you but mostly not in a bad way, joke around and ask questions.
Another aspect of it all is that the art itself is older than tattooing. The tattoos are sprung out of old wood blocks of art.
And as westerner I’m even less concerned. Tattoos or not, I’m probably going to be concidered a stupid foreigner/tourist if I visit Japan anyway 🙂 (even though my sleeve follows a traditional pattern done by one of the worlds acknowledged finest artists outside of Japan). However I would take it easy showing it off in at first just to get a feeling. But that’s more like common sense and custom behaviour. I wouldn’t add ketchup to sushi either so to speak. Although I’ve heard, from my tattooer, that showing up as a westerner with a lot of tattoos generally gets a good response. People look at you but mostly not in a bad way, joke around and ask questions.
Another aspect of it all is that the art itself is older than tattooing. The tattoos are sprung out of old wood blocks of art.
Thanks for the reply.
I am interested in seeing your tattoos if you could post a picture.
Another aspect of it all is that the art itself is older than tattooing. The tattoos are sprung out of old wood blocks of art.
Japan is a very homogeneous culture bordering on racist when it comes to anything or anyone non-Japanese. So tattoo’d or not you will be an outsider when you go there.
My point exactly. I expect to be ridiculed rather than concidered a criminal so to speak. Based on people who’ve been there and what they’ve said about how nice people in Japan generally are, the best you can hope for is that they feel flattered that you appreciate and take interest in their culture. You can never be better than anyone Japanese though in any way 🙂
Greyhound: Will get back to you if I manage to pick up a camera. I usually don’t post a lot of pics on the internet. Mostly because it’s so boring transferring images, uploading… perhaps having to log on somewhere. Maybe waiting. Lazy or impatient, I don’t know 😉
@
Hello
is it possible to have a left arm sleeve irezumi when someone is already tattooed (not an irezumi style) on his right arm by another tattoo artist?
May I have only a left arm sleeve irezumi? because I found in the web, many people have a pair of irezumi, not just a right arm or left arm.
and does anyone know the cost of getting an irezumi by Horiyoshi the Third?
thank you
if your not japanese you are an outsider……..I am a 6 foot 2, 275 weight lifting former marine with japanese sleeve, they look at me alright, but they sure dont think I am part of the mob……as you may suspect, I wouldnt give a f*ck what they thought anyway…….I dont wonder what my tattoo work means, looks like to anyone
is it possible to have a left arm sleeve irezumi when someone is already tattooed (not an irezumi style) on his right arm by another tattoo artist?
May I have only a left arm sleeve irezumi? because I found in the web, many people have a pair of irezumi, not just a right arm or left arm.
and does anyone know the cost of getting an irezumi by Horiyoshi the Third?
thank you
He doesnt do new work anymore, hes just finishing pieces that he has been working on.
And it would have cost many thousands of dollars if u were to hypothetically get it done by him.
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