If you look up the definition of a tattoo online you won’t see much on what they clearly are. All you are told is that it is a strong knocking or pulsation, and that is correct. It is the act of “tapping” ink into a person's skin. However, there are many different styles of tattooing all around the world. Places like New Zealand and Japan try to preserve the tradition of tattooing by not using the advanced machinery that is offered. In Japan, tattooing is considered to be taboo. There’s a wide range on people's thoughts on tattooing. The most common thought in Japan when you see someone with a tattoo is that they’re part of the Yakuza (Japanese Gangsters). There’s a lot more to it however, the history of japanese tattooing has stayed alive
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However, the reactions by most westerners was completely opposite. Fascinated foreigners went to Japan to seek the skills of tattoo artists, thus being still condemned, traditional tattooing continued underground. Since traditional Japanese tattoos were associated with the yakuza, many businesses such as public baths, hot springs, and fitness centers still ban customers with tattoos. In the process of getting a tattoo the customer must first find themselves a traditional tattoo artist, which can be a difficult task itself. Unlike western style tattoo artists, the majority of traditional irezumi tattoo artist aren’t located in areas of Tokyo. Finding a traditional irezumi artist is not only hard to find, but very expensive and time consuming. Most western tattoo artist will charge couple hundred to almost thousand dollars per hour depending on the difficulty of the tattoo. A traditional irezumi, which is a full body suit, can take up to five years and cost up to $30,000. Unlike western tattoos, traditional irezumi artists tend to go back and forth on the customer's idea on what they would like to do and also have the right to refuse an offer. Lastly, traditional irezumi artists don’t use electric machines because of their lack to produce certain contrast of shades. Thus, artists turn to using wooden handles with metal needles attached to them
However, the reactions by most westerners was completely opposite. Fascinated foreigners went to Japan to seek the skills of tattoo artists, thus being still condemned, traditional tattooing continued underground. Since traditional Japanese tattoos were associated with the yakuza, many businesses such as public baths, hot springs, and fitness centers still ban customers with tattoos. In the process of getting a tattoo the customer must first find themselves a traditional tattoo artist, which can be a difficult task itself. Unlike western style tattoo artists, the majority of traditional irezumi tattoo artist aren’t located in areas of Tokyo. Finding a traditional irezumi artist is not only hard to find, but very expensive and time consuming. Most western tattoo artist will charge couple hundred to almost thousand dollars per hour depending on the difficulty of the tattoo. A traditional irezumi, which is a full body suit, can take up to five years and cost up to $30,000. Unlike western tattoos, traditional irezumi artists tend to go back and forth on the customer's idea on what they would like to do and also have the right to refuse an offer. Lastly, traditional irezumi artists don’t use electric machines because of their lack to produce certain contrast of shades. Thus, artists turn to using wooden handles with metal needles attached to them