Japanese Tattoo's

Traditionally, Japanese tattoos began as a means of conveying societal status as well as serving as spiritual symbols  for the use of protection as well as symbolizing devotion to where there from etc., not unlike modern religious tattoos. Over time, tattoos in Japanese culture developed as a form of punishment similar to what was seen in Rome where it was common practice to tattoo prisoners of war, criminals, and slaves as a means of making their status in society instantly recognizable. Eventually tattoos were outlawed by the Emperor of Japan in an effort to improve Japan’s image in the west so that business in trade and to be able to communicate and not scare of the west from visiting. Tattoos in Japan then took on a criminal element, but this didn’t stop foreigners from being so intrigued to learn the traditional ways. The modern association between Japanese traditional tattoos and the criminal element is said to have led to the adoption of tattoos by the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. There are a number of images and symbols used in the Japanese style of tattooing to convey specific meanings. These images are used to portray a persons belief or for now days the simple love of the artwork.
The latest recording for tattoos in the Japanese culture is around 10,000 B.C. But because it becoming outlawed and criminals in the mafia got them there not looked at as what they were back then.