this scene's serene

                      

So whether or not you’re into tattoos, you can’t deny the beauty of this Japanese body art. Tattooing, also known as “Irezumi” is a cultural tradition that has been developing in Japan for centuries. At first they were used as status symbols, and then as different ages and eras progressed, their meanings were constantly changed. For a while, tattoos were just for decorative or spiritual purposes, however, after the 19th century, tattoos became associated with violence and gangs. Irezumi eventually solely took on connotations of criminality, causing Japan to ban tattoos in order to maintain a good image to other countries. It wasn’t until 1945 that they were made legal and many businesses in Japan, such as public baths, still ban customers with tattoos. However, many young Japanese people still choose to get tattooed, despite society’s frown. Traditional irezumi is still done by specialist tattooists, but it is painful, time-consuming and expensive. A typical traditional body suit can take one to five years of weekly visits to complete and cost more than $30,000 dollars.