Japanese tattoos go back in history for over 2000 years AD, they started off from capital punishment – if you committed a crime, your crime would be tattooed on different parts of your body. For example if you committed murder you'll have the japanese symbol for murder tattooed onto your chest.
In more recent years Japanese tattoos are based around the Japanese Mafia, they would have body suites tattooed from the bottom of the neck, to the wrists and to the top of the ankles. If you was to wear a suite you couldn't see any of the tattoos on the skin, but when you take your shirt off you are revealing your true identity as a criminal.
If you imagine being in a bathing house and you see 3 or 4 men with full body suites, tradition states that they are Japanese Mafia and have covered all of they're punishment tattoos with Japanese Tattoo designs usually found on wood block designs.
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