Tattooing in Okinawa

All women living in Okinawa, formerly the Ryukyu Kingdom had tattoos on their hands until the Meiji Restoration. Once the practice was banned by the Japanese government the tradition began to fade and by the 1930s the youngest women with tattoos were in their 60s or 70s.

Tattooing in Okinawa Volume two is a translation of Obara Kazuo's research in Okinawa. He travelled extensively in Okinawa in the early 1930's recording many examples of tattoos. Due to the Second World War he was unable to publish his findings until 1962. Obara was able to find and catalogue a great number of tattoos from the majority of the Okinawan islands in addition to noting songs, legends and many interesting details about the tattooing ceremony.