A yakuza gang member wears a tattoo of shisa, a cross between a dog and a lion that protects good spirits and wards off evil spirits. A shisa with a closed mouth gaurds good spirits while an open-mouthed shisa protects the wearer from evil spirits, The shisa emerge from a lotus flower, a traditional Japanese symbol of beauty emerging from the mud of life – a poignant reminder of the origins of the yakuza gangs.
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Yakuza Tattoos: Japanese Gang Members wear the Culture of Crime
Yakuza tattoos are a source of fascination for many tattoo lovers. The high level of secrecy surrounding the tattoos, combined with the painful method of “hand-poking” the designs and the association with the Japanese underworld gives yakuza tattoo art a mysterious appeal. The History of Japanese Yakuza Gang Tattoos The history of the yakuza […]