Irezumi 《刺青》

◎なぜ日本では刺青が嫌われるのか？ もともと日本では、魔除けとして顔や体に刺青を入れる文化があったんですよね。縄文時代とか、みんな入れてたらしい。 300年前(江戸時代)に犯罪者に入れ墨を入れる刑罰が出来て、刺青＝犯罪者というイメージが日本人に定着したんですよね。 戦後、日本の刺青（和彫り）はヤクザが組織への忠誠心や覚悟を示す象徴として好んで使われるようになりました。 「刺青＝ヤクザ」というイメージも追加。 もともと、儒教の影響で日本人には「親から貰った身体を傷つけるのはダメ」という考えもあり。 さらに「刺青＝親不孝な奴」というイメージも追加。 結果として「刺青＝親不孝でヤクザの犯罪者」となってしまった訳で。 最近、タトゥー入れてる海外の人いっぱい日本に来るから、少しずつ変わっては来ているけど。 なんとなくで嫌がる人も多いんだよね。 ◎ Why are tattoos disliked in Japan? Originally, Japan had a culture of tattooing the face and body as a form of protection against evil spirits; it seems everyone did it back in the Jomon period. However, about 300 years ago—during the Edo period—a punishment was introduced where criminals were forcibly tattooed, cementing the association between tattoos and criminality in the Japanese mindset. In the post-war era, traditional Japanese tattoos (*wabori*) became popular among the Yakuza as a symbol of loyalty and resolve toward their organization. This added the image of "tattoos = Yakuza" to the mix. There was also the underlying influence of Confucianism, which instilled the belief that harming the body one received from one's parents was wrong. This led to the additional perception that having a tattoo was an act of filial impiety. Consequently, the prevailing image became "tattoos = a criminal Yakuza member who disrespects their parents." Things are gradually changing, of course, as so many people from overseas with tattoos now visit Japan. Still, there are plenty of people who dislike them simply out of an instinctive aversion.