For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history
Tehya N.
118 episodes
1 week ago
I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!
All content for For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history is the property of Tehya N. and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!
Criminal Ink: How Tattoos Became Japan’s Most Forbidden Art
For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history
36 minutes
1 week ago
Criminal Ink: How Tattoos Became Japan’s Most Forbidden Art
Ever wonder how Japanese tattoos went from sacred symbols to signs of crime—and back again? Grab your matcha and settle in, because we’re diving deep (and painfully) into the history of Yakuza tattoos. From ancient fishermen warding off sea monsters to the full-body masterpieces of Edo Japan, this episode of For the Love of History gets under your skin—literally.
TK takes us on a wild ride through Japan’s criminal ink, exploring the ancient roots of irezumi, the artistry behind traditional hand-tapped tattoos, and how Japan’s obsession with “purity” turned body art into a mark of shame. Spoiler: chisels were involved. (Yes, chisels.)
You’ll learn how:
Ancient fishermen believed tattoos could protect them from giant man-eating fish 🐟
Edo-era criminals were branded with tattoos as punishment
The Yakuza transformed those same marks into breathtaking full-body art as a badge of loyalty and endurance
Ukiyo-e artists shaped the style, color, and symbolism of Japanese tattoo design 🎨
The Meiji government banned tattooing in a bid to appear “civilized” to the West
And one daring pathologist preserved tattooed skin to save this outlawed art for future generations (gross but fascinating!)
By the end, you’ll never look at a dragon-and-tiger tattoo the same way again.
💡 Big Takeaway:
Tattoos in Japan tell a story of rebellion, beauty, and resilience. What began as punishment became art, identity, and resistance—etched forever in ink and history.
💬 CTA: If you loved this deep dive into Japan’s criminal ink, leave a review, share the episode, and follow For the Love of History for more weird, wonderful, and rebellious tales from the past.
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history
I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!
