Tattooing has been a part of Japanese culture since ancient times, and Japanese traditional tattoos, known as irezumi, have been around since at least the 12th century. While traditional tattoos have been used for various purposes throughout history, such as for religious and spiritual purposes, the modern practice of traditional tattooing is rooted in the country’s Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. It was during this time that tattooing began to be associated with the criminal underworld, and as such, it was banned by the government in 1790.