Japanese tattoo during the Edo period contributed to the "Tattoo Renaissance" of today. Even through times of cultural, religious, and government disapproval, the ukiyo-e style has remained constant. It is a classical style which contemporary tattoo masters reference and study. Without the strong foundations present in ukiyo-e tattoo, the superiority of the "Renaissance tattoo" would not continue to thrive. .
The Edo period was between 1603 and 1868. Edo, current day Tokyo, was an emerging new culture of bourgeoisie indulgence. "The solitary, contemplative world of aristocratic culture gave way in Edo to the gregarious, hilarious, colour craving of the young, brash, middle class (Turk 1966:43)." Part of Edo's culture was the Yoshiwara, otherwise known as the floating world. The Yoshiwara held the same status as current day Las Vegas. Prostitution was legal. Actions weren't closely monitored. Idle samuri, newly rich merchants, actors, artists, and some of the dangerous ronin (samuri without an overlord), all frequented its brothels, tea houses and streets (Turk : 1966: 135). This place of extravagance also lent itself to the subject matter of ukiyo-e prints and the progress of Japanese tattoo.
Ukiyo-e prints were excellent ways of documenting Edo culture. Wood-block prints were produced in large quantities and sold cheaply in ordinary shops. The prints were thought of the same way as one might think of a poster or postcard (Finley: 1998: 21). The price of the prints was no higher than a bowl of noodles (Kitamura 2001:10). Ukiyo-e prints recorded the developing culture while preserving this culture for generations to come, especially in reference to tattoo. These images are still available. They are copied and studied.
Different types of tattoos developed out of Edo culture. Sometimes courtesans and their lovers would have their names tattooed on their upper thigh as a love pledge (McCallum 1988:119).
