Sep 2, 2013 - Explore kasidahb's board 'Yakuza tattoo', followed by 2411 people. See more ideas about Yakuza tattoo, Irezumi and Traditional japanese tattoos. Many Yakuza have full-body tattoos (including their genitalia). These tattoos, known as irezumi in Japan, are still often 'hand-poked', that is, the ink is inserted beneath the skin using non-electrical, hand-made and handheld tools with needles of sharpened bamboo or steel. The procedure is expensive, painful, and can take years to complete.
Although everyone seems to know of them, not much is known about the Yakuza’s greatest connection, Tattoos. Nowadays, the general public has become more accepting of tattoos, in general. Gone are the days when tattooed people were shunned by society, but apparently, Japan hasn’t gotten the memo yet.The common term for Japanese tattoo art is Irezumi (入れ墨), meaning to insert ink. This refers to the Japanese tattooing tradition of inserting ink beneath the skin to form the tattoo. Irezumi tattoos derive inspiration from Japanese folklore and mysticism. The most common tattoos are Koi Fish, Samurai, Dragons, and Oni.Read on to learn more about the different Yakuza tattoo designs and the specific meanings attached to each of them.
Phoenix (不死鳥; fushichou)Another popular tattoo would be the phoenix who rises from the ashes in an eternal cycle. Similar to its symbolism in western countries, (although it was the Chinese who brought this idea to them) it is associated with rebirth, reawakening, and new beginnings.
Kintarō (金太郎; ‘Golden Boy’)This ‘golden boy’ was named this way more for his superhuman strength than the color of his skin. The stuff of legend, Kintarō was said to actually have truly existed during the Heian Period (794 – 1185), smashing rocks, bending and uprooting trees, wrestling bears, and battling demons from a very young age. He was also believed to have been the guardian of a samurai named Minamoto no Yorimitsu later on in his life. He is often rendered with red skin and wrestling a giant black koi.Kintaro is chosen as a tattoo to either impart his legendary strength to the person or serve as a guardian, as he did to the samurai. Lotus (蓮; Hasu)The lotus is deeply-tied to the Buddhist symbolism about the hardships one has to undergo in life in order to live it fully and meaningfully.
Just like the wise Drake once said: ‘Started from the bottom, now we’re here’, lotuses begin their seedling lives under the mud and gradually grow upwards and blossom into immaculate flowers that float on the surface of the pond. It’s incredible how something that literally came from sludge can look so pure. Lotuses epitomize the struggle towards spiritual awakening and the journey of most Yakuza from the fringes of society.
Chrysanthemum (菊; Kiku)The Chrysanthemum is a symbol of the imperial family of Japan. This flower was assigned its royal status because its numerous petals that spread out resemble the sun. As a descendant of the sun-goddess, Amaterasu (天照), the emperor represents the middle of the flower, as he is the center of the country. To add to that, they are also closely-associated with longevity and joy because they look like the sun. Yakuza don’t usually have Chrysanthemums on their own and choose them alongside dragons or phoenixes to balance out the tattoo and fill out larger spaces like the back or torso.
Peony (牡丹; Botan)If there were a flower that could stand for reckless, macho, manliness, it would be none other than the King of Flowers in Japan, Peony. Gangster florals.
Who would’ve thought? The reason a Yakuza might choose to have Peony grafted onto their skin, is that it shows wealth, elegance, prosperity, and good fortune, while also keeping the traditional style and code that a member may follow. Others may also consider this a symbol that suggests a daring and all or nothing attitude.
Something that definitely fits the typical personality type of an average Yakuza. Foo Dog (狛犬; Komainu )If you’re confused about the Foo Dogs and think they look more like lions, that’s because they are lions. They’re known (more accurately) as the Lions of Buddha and the guardians of Buddhist temples. They probably look familiar too because you usually find two of them on either side of a temple’s entrance. They’re also found in mansions and mausoleums as keepers of sacred sanctuaries. The Yakuza get them as tattoos for more or less the same purpose for protection against harm and evil—and they often get them in pairs too! Typically, one of them would have its mouth open to ward off evil spirits and the other one would have it closed to safeguard good spirits.
Oni Mask (鬼)Personally, I don’t think Oni masks are the best tattoos to have just because their bulging eyes and aggressive expression can be a shocking thing to see on a mirror when you wake up in the morning. Well, maybe that’s part of why its chosen in the first place. An Oni is a fierce-looking demon or ogre with horns, fangs, and tusks. They consume human flesh and spread death and disease.
Aside from the part about eating human flesh, doesn’t this sound a lot like what a Yakuza would do? Oni are also said to be reincarnations of really bad people, so that also goes in line with the image they want to project.
Head (生首; Namakubi)I thought I’d save the best for last, if you could call it that, and end things with a bang or a chop because we’ll be ending with severed heads. Gore and barbarism aside, there’s actually more to it than being a creepy tattoo to freak people out. It’s a nod to the samurai practice of headhunting and symbolizes fearlessness. I mean, you’d have to be really brave to have something like this inked on your body where you’ll be seeing it all the time. Just when you thought the Oni Masks were shocking enough. Interestingly, it also conveys respect for a foe.
I guess there really is honor among thieves? Of course, it’s also meant to scare people away. Anyone with a good head on his shoulders would most certainly keep his distance from a person with a tattoo of a severed head!