Criminal Ink: the history and meaning behind Yakuza tattoos - a podcast by Tehya F.

Yakuza tattoos, are they simply the marks of criminals displaying their mafia affiliation for all to see? Or do these full-body masterpieces have a deeper meaning? How did they start? How did the tattoo or irezumi come to be associated with criminals and social outcasts? Find out in this week's episode!

Further reading

• Japanese Tattoos History and Meaning
• A Guide to The Mythological Creatures of Japanese Irezumi
• Understanding The Language Of Irezumi
• History of Japanese Tattoo

Books

• JAPANESE TATTOOS: HISTORY * CULTURE * DESIGN BY BRIAN ASHCRAFT
• JAPANESE TATTOOS: MEANINGS, SHAPES, AND MOTIFS BY YORI MORIARTY

Further episodes of For the Love of History

Further podcasts by Tehya F.

Website of Tehya F.