Tattooing is an Art — A Study based on Japan
There is an emotional devotion of the person whenever he or she does something. People perceive acts as positive or negative thus, they do not care for the fondness of the concerned person.
The same is with the tattooing!
People make so many interpretations according to their wishes. The definition of tattoo does not define it as just putting ink into the skin, rather there is a lot more. Likewise, the origin of tattoos, how one can take care of tattoos, where to get and the most important is the decision to print the tattoo permanently.
There is a long story behind the first tattoo. But, without any doubt, it is interesting to know that first tattoos were found on a preserved body that was mummified in three thousand B.C. Similarly, one of the oldest tattoos found on Otzi. Otzi was iceman who died about 5,300 years ago. This iceman used to have tattoos in different places of their bodies.
(McCallum, 1988; Tamabayashi, 1956; Yoshioka, 1996) revealed the events of history and mentioned that “Japanese had traditional tattooing technique applied on the full-body known as the full-body suit, developed during the Edo period after the 18th century”. Traditionally, many people in Japan had tattoos on hands-only but then it expanded. The tattoos were designed for some specific reasons and thus had specific meanings. (Seigle, 1993; Van Gulik, 1982) stated that “Munawari was one of the most common tattooing patterns in japan, it resembled an unbuttoned vest”. Another tattoo was there known as Kishobori. It was a vow tattoo and was popular practice among lovers; likewise, Yujos tattoo had the meaning of playgirl or the prostitutes.
It is to note here that these tattoos were permanent. Besides having pain, people had tattoos on their bodies. History reveals that archeologists found around sixty-one tattoos printed on the corpse. The tattoos were not ordinary but extraordinary tattoos. Tattoos originated from Egyptians and then populated among Romans and Greeks.
There are many reasons due to which the culture of tattooing has been in practice in Japan among most of the people. Whether a man or a woman, everyone is fond of tattoos for different reasons. It is a kind of body decoration, expresses the social status, it can be the religious practice, custom, as well as the punishment. Though tattooing is considered as an art but somewhere today, it is not that positive sign to have a tattoo on any part of the body. This is due to the reason that people along with all above-mentioned reasons had one reason that criminals like gangsters also had tattoos on their body parts.
It is to mention strength and make other people fear them. Somewhere, this idea is being adopted by the people and those people see whole the world where tattoos are practiced with a negative eye. In Japan, most people conceal their tattoos for having dual meaning or to have any negative comments. Thus, public places like parks and saunas banned the tattooed people entry.
This is unfortunate!
-Old and Modern Time Tattoo Practice among Japanese
During the old times, people had different reasons for the tattoos on their body parts. As mentioned above, some for their relations or religions or any other reason was behind the tattoos. But, today people in japan are trending tattoos for having fun. It is a fashionable art for the Japanese to have tattoos on their bodies.
Mohwald (2000) rightly said that “change in value is not the substitute for old values; rather the change is concerned with the new values and ideas”. Consequently, the Japanese culture of tattooing is self-expression. It is being treated negatively but there is no sense to make it negative it presents time. Modern time promotes the freedom of expression and putting a ban on the tattooed people is against modernization, therefore; against the term contemporary Japan.
More broadly, (Yamada, 2001) argued that “At Tokyo Tattoo Convention in 2000, even the tattoo masters who know each other do not greet in the gatherings and stay away, rather hide their identity”. What it reflects is the negativity when the old tattoo masters avoid the participation in the conversation.
In the modern era when everyone knows that a gangster or a criminal can have a tattoo then why that criminal put a tattoo. Rather, the particular criminal must be hiding from the public eye. The sentiments of the people should be respected rather than taking negatively. (Möhwald, 2000; Yamada, 2008) analyzed in their work that “through tattooing, Japanese do not lose their respect or identity rather there can be multiple realities in contemporary japan. It is the nature of globalization to adopt new and old ideas in a unique way to express oneself.
In the modern era of Japan, still, the art of tattooing is misunderstood. Looking back into history, people from centuries have been talking about tattooing. Unfortunately, the ideas are not in favor of tattooing.
At many places, tattooists and tattooees present themselves and show modernization or freedom through self-expression. On the other hand, there have been many places banned for tattooed people. (Yamada, 2009) states that “Still there is a Sign “Tattooed People are not Allowed”. Even though tattooing is not a crime but banning the people who have tattoos is not a convincing act. Being legal, it has been considered as a crime.
In most of places, the people with tattoos are not allowed to work. It is due to historical reasons when the tattooed people were involved in criminal activities such as gangsters and rebellion. But, it does not mean that the Japanese are adopting the same historical act rather this is their personal choice and that self-expression should be respected.
References
· Möhwald, U. (2000) ‘Trends in Value Change in Contemporary Japan’, in J.S. Eades, T. Gill and H. Befu (eds) Globalization and Social Change in Contemporary Japan, pp. 55–75. Melbourne: Trans Pacific Press.
· Yamada, M. (2008) ‘Meanings of Tattoos in the Context of Identity-construction — A Study of Japanese Students in Canada’, Japan Studies Review 12: 3–21.
· Van Gulik, W.R. (1982) Irezumi: The Pattern of Dermatography in Japan. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
· McCallum, D. (1988) ‘Historical and Cultural Dimensions of the Tattoo in Japan’, in A. Rubin (ed.) Marks of Civilization: Artistic Transformations of the Human Body, pp. 109–34. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
· Tamabayashi, H. (1956) Bunshin Hyakushi (A Hundred Tattoos). Tokyo: Bunsendo. ‘Tattoos, Body Piercing Gaining Popularity’ (1994) Daily Yomiuri 5 October: 3.
· Yoshioka, I. (1996) Irezumi no jinruigaku (The Anthropology of Tattooing). Tokyo: Yuzankaku.
· Seigle, C.S. (1993) Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
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