The history of Japanese body suit tattooing is a fascinating one that encompasses much more than just the application of inks to skin.\nAn understanding of the subject requires knowledge of the social and political forces at work from prehistoric times to the present day. This book traces the development of those forces, their role in the growth of the military government and its efforts to control a people often less than willing to be controlled. With reference to the Edo period (1600-1867), urbanisation and the growth of Edo (modern Tokyo), the background to tattooing is carefully explained. The yakuza (Japanese mafia), their forebears and their attitudes to life, crime and tattooing are explored in great depth.\nThe technical aspects of tattooing are similarly detailed and Horikazu, a modern practitioner of this traditional craft, is profiled.\nThe authors visited Japan at the invitation of one of Tokyo's yakuza gangs, where they also interviewed other tattoo artists and conducted research, and they have produced a book that will doubtless serve its field as an outstanding reference resource for a generation.\nA History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing\nTattooing is again fashionable. The authors hope this book contributes to calls for some tattoo practices to be elevated to the realm of art, of which the Japanese body suit must be the supreme example.\nThe authors visited Japan to complete their research by interviewing the bosses of two Asakusa gangs, the tattooist Horikazu as well as other tattoo artists and tattoo specialists. They accessed documents hitherto unpublished in a European language and returned with much exclusive illustrative material.\nMark Poysden (UK, 1962) lived many lives on three continents before settling in the Netherlands 20 years ago. For the past 8 years he has translated and edited texts focusing on Japanese art and history.\nMarco Bratt (NL, 1967) specialises in Japanese tattoos. He opened his second tattoo studio in 2001 after a trip to Polynesia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Borneo. He has visited Japan six times in pursuit and inspiration.