New Law Threatens to Destroy Japan’s Tattoo Industry

Will One of the Largest Tattoo Empires Fall?

When it comes to cultures that have had a significant impact on tattooing, the Japanese stand above the rest. Japanese tattooing goes back centuries and their techniques had strong influences on the Western tattoo industry we know today. However, just last month, a court in Osaka ruled that tattoos in Japan can now only be done by medical professionals. The case came about after a tattooer named Taiki Masuda was fined and brought to court for not being a trained medical doctor. Keep reading to find out what this means for one of the greatest tattoo cultures of all time and the artists currently working in Japan.