The Japanese government banned tattoos in 1872 ... Donburi soshinbori is a full-body tattoo without the line down the center of the chest, and hanzubon are tattooed thighs resembling shorts.

While body art is widely accepted in many countries, tattoos are considered taboo in Japan, especially in public places like bathhouses, gyms and even workplaces. Because of this stigma, tattoo ...

In Japan, full-body irezumi tattoos began as mystical charms before later being adopted by the Yakuza as emblems of loyalty and courage. By the 18th century, tattoos became a symbol of adventure ...

According to a 2016 survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), Japan recorded 20,159 tattoo removal cases, making it the second-highest in the world—only behind ...