Society Tattoos in Japan from a Māori perspective

[thomas]

The New Zealand Herald looks at the changing image of tattoos in Japan. For centuries, tattoos have been regarded as related to the criminal underworld. Despite the prevalence of tattoos in modern culture, the stigma appears to exist. That's been an issue for Māori, with tā moko, mataora and moko kauae, when they travel there. But are attitudes changing?

Need to brush up on your Māori?

• tā moko: the permanent marking or "tattoo" traditionally practised by Māori.
• mataora: the "face of vitality", Māori facial tattoos.
• moko kauae: a traditional Māori chin tattoo worn by women to symbolise rank and status.
• tikanga: a Māori concept incorporating practices and values from mātauranga Māori, Māori knowledge. Tikanga is translated into English with many meanings—culture, custom, ethic, etiquette, fashion, formality, lore, manner, meaning, mechanism, method, protocol, style, and customary law.
  
• whakapapa: genealogy, is a fundamental principle in Māori culture. Reciting one's whakapapa proclaims one's Māori identity, places oneself in a wider context, and links oneself to land and tribal groupings and their mana.
  
• tūpuna: a grandparent or any ancestor more remote than one's parents.

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As recently as 2019, during the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks were going to great lengths to cover their moko to avoid offending Japanese attitudes. Tattoos were officially taboo then, but now, people like Mizuno recognise moko for what it is. [...] Aaron Henare, of Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Takoto, Te Arawa and Ngāti Kuri, is a professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the ring name Henare. He's lived in Japan for eight years and proudly wears his mata ora. He says the reaction to the taonga has been nothing but positive. "There's been no problems on the street. There's been no problems going anywhere. In the gym, I wear a mask because I respect their tikanga. I don't want to scare anyone if [I'm] pumping weights in the gym. They're all right as long as it's respectful and the fans love it. They're like, 'Wow, I can't believe he loves his people so much that he is willing to do that.' It's like a different level of respect they have."

Tattoos in Japan once the domain of gangsters but now badges of honour for a younger generation

Body art, including tā moko, is not illegal but attitudes are conservative.

www.nzherald.co.nz