Remembering History: In Japan, a rich tradition of body art, known as Irezumi, stretches back to approximately 10,000 BC. Tattooing was banned between 1876-1948, when the art form became associated with criminality and gang culture. But once prohibitions were lifted, tattooists were free once again to work without fear of arrest. Here, a Japanese man is pictured in 1958 with full body tattoos.

In Japan, a rich tradition of body art, known as Irezumi, stretches back to approximately 10,000 BC. Tattooing was banned between 1876-1948, when the art form became associated with criminality and gang culture. But once prohibitions were lifted, tattooists were free once again to work without fear of arrest. Here, a Japanese man is pictured in 1958 with full body tattoos.

In Japan, a rich tradition of body art, known as Irezumi, stretches back to approximately 10,000 BC. Tattooing was banned between 1876-1948, when the art form became associated with criminality and gang culture. But once prohibitions were lifted, tattooists were free once again to work without fear of arrest. Here, a Japanese man is pictured in 1958 with full body tattoos.