Tokyo. Japan has a deep history connected to its tattoo culture. There are many tattoo studios across the city, while each is different, there is a shared focus on keeping the traditional artform of Japanese tattooing alive. If you have a particular interest in this iconic style, then it's certainly worth a trip.
Originally thought to have reached the Maori via east Polynesia, tattooing became an integral part of their culture. Because the Maori considered the head to be body's most sacred part, they focused heavily on facial tattoos. If a Maori was highly ranked, it was certain that the person would be tattooed.
In 2018, the oldest figurative tattoos in the world were discovered on two mummies from Egypt which are dated between 3351 and 3017 BCE. Ancient tattooing was most widely practiced among the Austronesian people.
Thanks to international currency, it's significantly more affordable to get a tattoo in Thailand than in other parts of the world. Thailand tattoo prices are set for the local market and using overseas currencies means you'll get more bang for your buck, without compromising on quality.
Korean tattooists are not only recognized for their incredible creativity in incorporating color into their designs, but also for the play of colors that occurs with the watercolor technique that many employ.
Getting a tattoo isn't illegal in Korea, but under Korea's legal system, it's considered a medical practice and can only be carried out by tattooists with a medical license. Anyone who violates this law can face at least two years in prison and up to 10 million won ($7,600) in fines.
South Korean law permits only licensed medical practitioners, as opposed to tattoo artists without medical degrees, can open tattoo parlors, although it is not illegal to have a tattoo. Only the army prohibits tattoos. People can have tattoos after serving in the military.
United Kingdom. This may not come as a surprise to those of you who are familiar with the Brits, but the UK is ranked as #1 for tattooed people. This is one of the most tattoo-friendly countries in the world, with statistics showing that 1 in 3 people have tattoos.
Italy is rated the top country with 48% of the population having at least one tattoo.
A number of muslim countries have laws banning tattoos that involve any quotes or imagery from the Quran, Allah, or the Prophet Muhammad. The content of all tattoos in these nations are subject to Sharia Law. These countries include: Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
To date, the earliest-known tattoos are on the body of Otzi the Iceman, dating to around 3370–3100 BCE, and depict geometric shapes.
Early and ethnographic tattoos
The oldest figures of this kind have been recovered from tombs in Japan dating to 5000 BCE or older. In terms of actual tattoos, the oldest known human to have tattoos preserved upon his mummified skin is a Bronze-Age man from around 3300 BCE.
Before Ötzi poked his head through the ice, the earliest conclusive evidence of tattoos came from a handful of Egyptian mummies that date to the time of the construction of the great pyramids over 4,000 years ago.
Tokyo. Japan has a deep history connected to its tattoo culture. There are many tattoo studios across the city, while each is different, there is a shared focus on keeping the traditional artform of Japanese tattooing alive. If you have a particular interest in this iconic style, then it's certainly worth a trip.
Abstract. Tattoos play an important role in many religions. Tattoos have been used for thousands of years as important tools in ritual and tradition. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been hostile to the use of tattoos, but many religions, in particular Buddhism and Hinduism, make extensive use of them.
The most popular languages to get tattooed
Japanese tops the list of languages with an impressive 231,240 searches a year. It is closely followed by Chinese with 184,800 searches.
One in four Australians has a tattoo
Australia is experiencing growth in the proportion of people becoming 'inked'. Our latest study shows one in four Australians has a tattoo (25%) – a record high. This is up from 20% in 2018 and 19% in 2016.
Australia has no national laws that make it illegal for employers to ban visible body ink in the workplace or to reject applicants because of their tattoos.
Judaism traditionally prohibits tattooing as self-mutilation but modern interpretations have become more lenient. Islam generally discourages tattoos as altering the natural state of the body, though there are differing opinions among scholars.
Tattoos aren't illegal in South Korea, and you'll see youngsters sporting ink everywhere you go. Getting a tattoo, however, is illegal — under Korean law, it's viewed as a medical service and only allowed if the tattooist is also a qualified medical practitioner.
Actually, tattoos are fine in Japan. They're not illegal in any way. You may even see some people walking around with fashion tattoos, especially in Tokyo. Although some people in Japan have tattoos, they are usually hidden underneath clothing.
Despite the restrictions, you can still legally get tattooed in Korea. Clients don't face charges, only the artists. So, if you're really to support the rebels, here is how you book an appointment with a tattoo artist (tattooist as they call it) in South Korea.