Japan Preserves Traditional Irezumi Tattoos

In Japan, traditional irezumi tattoos are gaining renewed attention from historians and art students. Once associated with samurai culture and folklore, these detailed body artworks are now studied in universities as part of the country’s cultural heritage. Museums in Tokyo and Osaka are even hosting exhibitions to showcase centuries-old tattoo tools and designs.

Educators say that teaching the history of irezumi helps younger generations understand Japan’s complex relationship with tattoos, which have long carried both spiritual and social meanings. This academic interest is changing perceptions, slowly shifting tattoos from stigma toward art appreciation.