Traditional Japanese Tattooing

Japanese tattooing is a very respected, serious business and nothing new to their culture. It is something that has been dated all the way back to 10,000 BC! During the Yayoi period (300 BC-300 AD) tattoos had more of a spiritual meaning, & it wasn't until the Kofun period (300-600 AD) that they started marking criminals with tattoos.

Interesting Random Fact: Irezumi is the traditional Japanese word for tattooing, and it literally means to "insert ink".

The picture above is a tattoo of the Hanya mask, which in Japanese culture is a mask that came from the ancient story of a woman that was crazy in love with a priest... Her anger & jealousy eventually drove her insane, and caused her to grow horns/turn evil. Now-a-days it is used to keep the bad spirits away; a modern day good-luck charm. ;D

Btw...my love for tattoos will never die-out, it's just not happening. lol.