An irezumi tattoo is any type of tattoo that originated in Japan, from those made centuries ago to the ones that you can go into a shop and get today. If you like the look of these tattoos and find that any of them are meaningful to you, you might just be the perfect candidate! On this page we will take a look at a little bit of the history of irezumi tattoos, some design options that you have, and some of the meanings that come along with these designs.

Up until the late 19th century, every irezumi tattoo that was made had one or more symbols in the design rather than images. These symbols could be made as small as a pin prick and could also be as large as an entire back. The key thing was that the symbols were made for the wearer as marks of pride and heritage. Unlike today, these tattoos were earned rather than simply purchases, adding in even more meaning to the designs.

No one knows for sure who wore these irezumi tattoos originally, but it seems like the majority think that it was the lower class. However, some will argue that only the wealthiest of Japanese people got them in order to show that they were in the upper class. Considering the amount of detail that went into them and the skill it took to make them, it seems more plausible that the process at least began among the wealthy.

Another interesting fact is that Japanese firemen regularly got these classic irezumi tattoos. They did so both for symbolic protection and power, and because it was a form of comradery for everyone who took on that tough line of work. These weren’t just small tattoos that were only visible when the owners wanted people to see them; no, they were often full-body tats that were seen at all times by anyone who came across these men.

After that period, irezumi tattoos encompassed every style of ink that could be found, including those that we see today. More design options started to pop up, giving people even more ways to express themselves through their personal art. It really started to spread throughout Japan once the tools were modernized and easier to create, allowing people of all classes the chance to get irezumi tattoos.