Ever wonder how Japanese tattoos went from sacred symbols to signs of crime—and back again? Grab your matcha and settle in, because we’re diving deep (and painfully) into the history of Yakuza tattoos. From ancient fishermen warding off sea monsters to the full-body masterpieces of Edo Japan, this episode of For the Love of History gets under your skin—literally.

TK takes us on a wild ride through Japan’s criminal ink, exploring the ancient roots of irezumi, the artistry behind traditional hand-tapped tattoos, and how Japan’s obsession with “purity” turned body art into a mark of shame. Spoiler: chisels were involved. (Yes, chisels.)

You’ll learn how:

Ancient fishermen believed tattoos could protect them from giant man-eating fish 🐟

Edo-era criminals were branded with tattoos as punishment

The Yakuza transformed those same marks into breathtaking full-body art as a badge of loyalty and endurance

Ukiyo-e artists shaped the style, color, and symbolism of Japanese tattoo design 🎨

The Meiji government banned tattooing in a bid to appear “civilized” to the West

And one daring pathologist preserved tattooed skin to save this outlawed art for future generations (gross but fascinating!)

By the end, you’ll never look at a dragon-and-tiger tattoo the same way again.

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