69: Why we should be celebrating Japan's tattoo culture

Japan has an uncomfortable relationship with tattoos, which are associated with the yakuza and the criminal underworld of Japan.

We’re joined by Japan Times contributor and former columnist Alice Gordenker, who hopes to challenge that stereotype, through a new documentary she’s produced called “Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage,” which follows the annual pilgrimage of the Choyukai, a group united by their full-body tattoos.

We discuss Alice’s film, misconceptions about tattoos in Japan, and how tattoos turned from celebrated body art of the Edo Period to something thought of as a criminal accessory.

Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Democrats Abroad Japan (http://votefromabroad.org/fwab) , a volunteer organization that helps Americans overseas register to vote. If you're a U.S. voter living abroad and haven't received your absentee ballot, or are afraid the one you've sent won't arrive in time, you're still in luck. An emergency backup ballot is your second chance! Head to VoteFromAbroad.org/fwab (http://votefromabroad.org/fwab) to learn how you can fill out and send in your backup ballot per your state's guidelines.

Watch the film:
“Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage,” can be watched on Vice News' YouTube Channel. (https://youtu.be/q1h8K92cEag)

Read more: 

Japan's top court rules tattoo artists don't need medical license (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/09/18/national/crime-legal/japan-tattoo-artists-no-medical-license/) (The Japan Times)

Find tattoo friendly establishments in Japan (https://tattoo-friendly.jp) (Tattoo Friendly)

Tokyo man fired by sushi restaurant over tattoo rumor seeks damages (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/09/02/national/crime-legal/tattoo-fired-lawsuit/) (The Japan Times)

Loved abroad, hated at home: The art of Japanese tattooing (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/03/03/issues/loved-abroad-hated-at-home-the-art-of-japanese-tattooing/) (Jon Mitchell, The Japan Times)

Jomon revival: Interest in Japan’s indigenous hunter-gatherers grows (https://features.japantimes.co.jp/jomon-revival/) (Alex Martin, The Japan Times)

On this episode:
Alice Gordenker: Twitter (https://twitter.com/alicegordenker?lang=en) | Articles (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-alice_gordenker/) | Website (https://alicegordenker.wordpress.com)
Oscar Boyd: Twitter (https://twitter.com/omhboyd) | Articles (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/oscar-boyd/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oscar.boyd/)

Announcements:
Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at [email protected].

Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/japandeepdive?lang=en) , and give us feedback.

This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

Photo: “Praying for Hits in the Waterfall of Answered Prayers” (1863) Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III). Courtesy of Isehara

Japan has an uncomfortable relationship with tattoos, which are associated with the yakuza and the criminal underworld of Japan.

We’re joined by Japan Times contributor and former columnist Alice Gordenker, who hopes to challenge that stereotype, through a new documentary she’s produced called “Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage,” which follows the annual pilgrimage of the Choyukai, a group united by their full-body tattoos.

We discuss Alice’s film, misconceptions about tattoos in Japan, and how tattoos turned from celebrated body art of the Edo Period to something thought of as a criminal accessory.

Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Democrats Abroad Japan, a volunteer organization that helps Americans overseas register to vote. If you're a U.S. voter living abroad and haven't received your absentee ballot, or are afraid the one you've sent won't arrive in time, you're still in luck. An emergency backup ballot is your second chance! Head to VoteFromAbroad.org/fwab to learn how you can fill out and send in your backup ballot per your state's guidelines.

Watch the film:
“Horimono: Japan’s Tattoo Pilgrimage,” can be watched on Vice News' YouTube Channel.

Read more: 

Japan's top court rules tattoo artists don't need medical license (The Japan Times)

Find tattoo friendly establishments in Japan (Tattoo Friendly)

Tokyo man fired by sushi restaurant over tattoo rumor seeks damages (The Japan Times)

Loved abroad, hated at home: The art of Japanese tattooing (Jon Mitchell, The Japan Times)

Jomon revival: Interest in Japan’s indigenous hunter-gatherers grows (Alex Martin, The Japan Times)

On this episode:
Alice Gordenker: Twitter | Articles | Website
Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram

Announcements:
Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at [email protected].

Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback.

This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.


Photo: “Praying for Hits in the Waterfall of Answered Prayers” (1863) Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III). Courtesy of Isehara