When it comes to styles of tattoos, Japanese is one of the most popular styles out there. One of the main reasons the Japanese tattoo is popular is because almost every image has meaning behind it. Japanese tattoos have additional depth to their art. This has helped this style of tattooing persist for so long and extend its popularity to Western culture.

This applies to the Japanese tiger tattoo as well as many others. The tiger, in Japanese culture, has a great deal of meaning. This keeps this image extremely relevant even it times like these. The Japanese Tiger tattoo holds a great deal of meaning and in this article, I plan to go through much of the history and meaning behind this historical image.

History of Japanese Tattooing

Traditional Japanese tattoos were used as protection and symbols of devotion similar to religious tattoos. In addition, these tattoos were used to display status in society. Over the course of time, these tattoos were used as a form of marking criminals, slaves and prisoners of war. Eventually, tattoos in Japan went back to being a status symbol throughout the merchant class who, oddly enough, weren’t supposed to parade their wealth.

Fast forward to World War II, the Emperor of Japan, in an effort to improve the image of Japan to Westerners, outlawed tattoos. This didn’t stop the underbelly of Japan from getting tattoos nor did it discourage Westerners from getting Japanese tattoos. When talking about the criminal element in Japan, the Yakuza style of tattooing became popular in Japan. Yakuza members (Japanese mafia) would be tattooed from head to toe but you would never know. This style of tattooing covered every part of the body except for those exposed. Even the button line of a dress shirt wasn’t touched with the tattoo gun. The tiger was a big part of their tattoos as well.