Although tattoos have become mainstream in Japan as well as around the world it is not uncommon for public onsen (Japanese baths) and some capsule hotels not to admit people with tattoos as was my experience in Japan. Many of the older generation still associate tattoos with the criminal classes which may be the reason you don't see to many people showing them off in public places.
Izo's blog about her hubby's tat sounds funnier as I read via Google that within the Japanese culture, the mafiosi are known for their intricate full-body tattoos of mythological characters, a sign of initiation into the mafia. No wonder the Tokyo gym staff was alarmed. Mind you, Michael has only a very small tattoo....?Our son-in-law does not exactly strike us as a maffia gangster - surely Gordon would never have agreed to one of his daughter being married to a gangster! Even though the tat process is now done with modern tattoo guns, it can apparantly take up to two years to complete - no wonder , just take a second look at those colours and patterns.
Before I type another sentence, please see, (by clicking the link in the next paragraph) please hear, please take onboard that Jesus saves everyone who calls on His Name and everyone who confesses with his mouth or her mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in his heart or her heart that God raised him or her from the dead - every such person will be saved, will not perish, but will receive eternal life.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that your confess and are saved. Romans 10.
This goes for everyone, whether you are squeaky clean and have to realise this will never be clean enough to buy reconciliation with the Father and eternal life, or whether you are a Mafia member, who are crossing your fingers that you have some good goals even though the means are highly questionable - or whether you just don't care right now.
I dare you to listen to the following short video.
Please, click on this link to listen to a short video testimony of a previous Mafia member, Antonio Lorenzo, who called on Jesus, who confessed with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and who believed with his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. What a transformed, liberated life!
A 2-sentence history of the Japanese Mafia:
Their origins can be followed far back as to the year 1612 when men known as kabuki-mono (the crazy ones), came to the attention of local authorities. Their odd clothing, style, distinctive haircuts and anti-social behavior gained the attention and nortoriety of mainstream society in Japan and around the world.
In Japanese legal terminology, Yakuza organizations are referred to as bôryokudan, literally violence groups. Yakuza members consider this an insult, as bôryokudan is a term which can be applied to any violent criminal.
The Yakuza is an all men's society, viewing women as a bit weak, cannot fight like men, not born to fight. Yet, this woman is an exception.
Why the Tattoos?
- It is common to depict their clan's crest.
- A black ring is tattooed around the arm for each crime they committed.
- Tattoos is a sign that they were unwilling to submit to the norms and rules of societies.
- The Yakuza cannot be taken lightly. In Japan there are 110,000 active members divided into 2,500 families.
- Their influence is more pervasive and more accepted within Japanese society than organised crime is in America.
- Their influence is world-wide.
- In addition to their typical acitivities associated with organised crime, they are well ensconced in the corporate world.
- For the Yakuza it doesn´t matter which country you come from or from which class of society you belong to, it is not too hard to become a member of the 'New Yakuza'
- The Yakuza are believed to be one of the largest organized crime phenomena in the world and have been around longer than the Sicilian mafia.
- They mainly make their livings from unlawful activities, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and extortion.
- The Yakuza still see their role as that of taking care of those on the margins of society.
- To a Yakuza member, the most important thing is courage.
- They are prepared to fight to the death, rather than lose the battle and they must be willing to die for their boss.
- It is generally believed that most Yakuza members come from poor backgrounds or are on the margins of society.
- For many poor people the Yakuza have become like a family that protects them.
- After the earthquake in Kobe the Yakuza arranged financial aid and even a helicopter for local people most effected by it.
- Many local business see the extortion money as a form of 'tax' and the police are sometimes reluctant to become involved.
- The Christian church cannot be taken lightly. Sorry I haven't got the stats on hand. Christianity's influence is world-wide.
- As far as it concerns the Heavenly Father who sent His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life, it doesn´t matter which country you come from or from which class of society you belong to, it is not too hard to become a member of the Christian God's family.
- The Christian Church has been around longer than the Sicilian mafia.
- The child of God must be willing to die for their boss, Jesus their Lord and Saviour.
5 differences between Chritianity and The Yakuza - yes, there are some!!
- The Yakuza see their role as that of taking care of those on the margins of society, but Jesus says we are to love our neighbour, who can be anybody from any layer of society.
- Christianity cannot be reconciled to unlawful activities, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and extortion.
- To a Yakuza member, the most important thing is courage. But, a child of God is called to be like Jesus Christ and love binds all Christian characteristics, including courage, together.
- The Yakuza are prepared to fight to the death, rather than lose the battle. But the Christian knows that even if he or she loses a battle, that God is sovereign and, even if it takes time and process, that He will triumph.
- It is generally believed that most Yakuza members come from poor backgrounds or are on the margins of society. But there is a Heavenly Father who welcomes anyone from any background in Jesus, not only the poor and marganilised.
So......just for good measure and as a final PS,
here is an image of the anti-European Black Power Group, from New Zealand!
here is an image of the anti-European Black Power Group, from New Zealand!
Jason and Liesl and others from other lands may be able to defend themselves
by claiming they are out of Africa!
The Maori culture has a long tradition of tattooing, which dated back centuries until the Europeans outlawed it in the 1800s. These Auckland men belong to the anti-European Black Power Group. Their tattoos are a combination of traditional Maori tattoo art, called moko, and symbols picked up from the U.S. Black Power movement of the 1960s.Once outlawed, the tradition of tribal tattooing has undergone a recent renewal among the Maori people of New Zealand and other Polynesian cultures. Full facial markings, or moko, such as this Maori chief has, are the most common in New Zealand.
