People at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #6: Tattoos
1958 - 1963

Mukashi Yama no Hitobito #6: Irezumi
[People at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #6: Tattoos]
20.7 x 29.2 cm Ink Painting

Every male pit worker called an ishiyamato or gezainin in the Chikuho region at that time had tattoos though such persons were rarely seen among miners called kanayama kofus (miners from Besshi Copper Mine). It was not a problem if a person had many or few tattoos. However, male pit workers without tattoos were regarded as novice new comers or unskilled and unfledged workers and were despised by tattooed ones.
Therefore, tattoos (horimono: gaman: kurikara monmon) in general symbolized miners.

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" at the Top Middle
Do shiyo kai na no kono irezumi wa?
Doko no ireshi ga ireta yara.
Gotton! Gotton!

What shall I do with this tattoo?
I can't remember which tattooist tattooed me.
Gotton (Clang)! Gotton! (Interjected chants)


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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