Body Tattoos

The History of Body Tattoos

Some people may think that full body tattoos are a recent phenomenon, originating with circus performers and body modification legends like Katzen. This is not the case - tattoos covering the body have been a big part of many cultures throughout history.

Japanese Body Tats

Japan has long had a custom of tattooing known as irezumi, which literally translated means "insert ink". This type of tattoo was first seen in the paleolithic period, over 12,000 years ago. During the various periods of Japanese history, tattoos have undergone different transformations, from a mark of tribal belonging to being a process that only a criminal would undergo. Until tattooing was legalized in 1945 (after World War II) this stayed the case.

Many criminals, especially members of the Japanese mob known as the Yakuza obtained full body suit tattoos in secret - a type of tattoo known as horimono. This body tat was inked in a traditional manner, meaning the ink was tapped into the skin without a tattoo gun. Then, the center of the chest, the neck, hands and wrists were left bare so that the horimono wearer could cover all of his ink. Men were the only ones who received this sort of tattoo.

Modern Body Tats

Today, there are still people who choose to get a tattoo that covers most, if not all, of their available skin. Some of these people consciously plan their full body art, while others have a full body suit that evolves from individual tattoos that are tied together. Some of these brightly colored creations start with tattoo sleeves and just work outward, and others are started with a large piece on the back or chest.

The Lizardman

One of the most famous planned body tats is the one worn by the Lizardman. Born as Eric Sprague, this man has had numerous body modifications in order to obtain his goal of looking like a human lizard. Among the tongue splitting and teeth sharpening, Lizardman has also had most of his body tattooed with a green and black scale pattern. This body tattoo has taken over 650 hours of tattoo work, and covers his face and scalp as well as his body. You can see examples of the results at the Lizardman's web site.

Body Tat Ideas

When it comes to finding ideas for your body tattoo, the sky's the limit. You could choose a theme, such as Japanese images, or choose to get all of your tattoos in either bright colors or tied together because they're only black and grey. Some people choose to get their entire body covered in one image, such as that of a large animal (like a lion) or a work of art. You could even go with a group of images you really love, such as cartoon characters. George Reiger, the Disney Tattoo Guy has 844 Disney tattoos on his body.