It's because of the association between tattoos and a mafia-like group called the yakuza - which has operated in Japan for hundreds of years. "Some people see them as a necessary evil and other ...

These astonishing photographs give an unprecedented glimpse inside the world of the Yakuza, the Japanese organised crime syndicates, known for their brutality, tattoos and strict code of honour ...

Thai police have arrested a Japanese yakuza boss on the run for 15 years after pictures of his tattoos went viral on Facebook. Shigeharu Shirai is accused of murdering a gang rival in 2003.

Ever since the inception of the Yakuza franchise, now known as Like a Dragon, the tattoos of its central figures have stood as one of its most important thematic elements. Of course, real-life ...