Yakuza tattoos, are they simply the marks of criminals displaying their mafia affiliation for all to see? Or do these full-body masterpieces have a deeper meaning? How did they start? How did the tattoo or irezumi come to be associated with criminals and social outcasts? Find out in this week's episode!Further readingJapanese Tattoos History and MeaningA Guide to The Mythological Creatures of Japanese IrezumiUnderstanding The Language Of IrezumiHistory of Japanese TattooBooksJAPANESE TATTOOS: HISTORY * CULTURE * DESIGN BY BRIAN ASHCRAFTJAPANESE TATTOOS: MEANINGS, SHAPES, AND MOTIFS BY YORI MORIARTY