Aren tattoos in Japan the mark of yakuza organised criminals?
Unfortunately Hollywood, Western and Japanese writers and the media have portrayed Japanese tattoos in a very negative light; note how many so-called reference books and tattoo experts talk about ‘yakuza tattoos.’ Just because many yakuza are tattooed does not mean those who are tattooed are yakuza – in most countries of the world tattoos are common among the criminal element of society. In America many crack whores and paedophiles have tattoos, however, people do not call them ‘crack whore tattoos’ or ‘paedophile tattoos.’ I believe the same applies to horimono. A visit to any tattoo artist’s studio in Japan should instantly dispel this misconception.
