Addition traditional tattoos Japanese that we all know, such as carp, samurai or cherry blossoms, in Japan there are many other types of tattoos traditional not so well known.
In this article we will see some traditional tattoos very different Japanese, in which Ainu women tattooed their faces with at least a showy design. Keep reading to know more!
Who are the Ainu?
The Ainu are an indigenous people who inhabit the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido. They are an ancient people who arrived in that region about 18.000 years ago, just after the last ice age. Being isolated for so many years (they did not annex Japan until the XNUMXth century), the Ainu developed a culture of their own.
Their relations with the Japanese were quite strained, since at the beginning of the XNUMXth century they forced the Ainu to learn Japanese and assimilate a different culture.as well as abandoning his, which included items such as animal sacrifices and tattoos.
Nowadays, the Ainu are represented in the Japanese parliament, and in 2019 they were finally recognized as an indigenous people of Japan, allowing you to more efficiently protect your culture.
Ainu tattoos
Ainu women have a curious tradition, since from the tender age of twelve the contours of the mouth are tattooed. The color was obtained from the soot that was produced when burning birch bark in a pot. The first tattoo of an Ainu woman was a dot on the upper lip that grew larger with time. It was also common to tattoo hands and arms.
As we said, the tattoo was enlarging and shaping as time passed. It was considered complete when it was 15 or 16 years old, when it was considered that the woman was already an adult and was of age to marry.
Traditional Japanese tattoos hide surprises like those of the Ainu customs, which marked the step towards adulthood. Tell us, did you know this town in Hokkaido? Are you interested in tattoos of this style? Remember that you can tell us what you want, for it, leave us a comment!