The Early History of the Japanese Tattoo Art

Archaeologists have said that the first few settlers of Japan, the Ainu people, used to use facial tattoos. There have also been several documented reports about the 'Wa' people – which is the Chinese name for the Japanese people – who were said to dive into the water in search of fish and shells and who decorated their entire bodies with tattoos. These documents date back to almost 1700 years ago.

However, the Chinese culture was very highly developed and for them the act of tattooing was considered to be barbaric. When Buddhism was brought into Japan from China, it also brought along with a very strong Chinese influence and thus, tattooing was perceive as negative. Criminals were tattooed o identify and punish them in society.