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入れ墨者 (いれずみもの, irezumimono) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

入いれ墨ずみ者もの

い

れ

ず

み

も

の

Meanings

1

tattooed criminal (Edo period)

Historical term for a person who received a punitive tattoo during the Edo period, marking them as a convicted criminal.

江え戸ど時じ代だい、入いれ墨ずみ者ものは前ぜん科か者しゃとして一いち目もくでわかるよう

に

さ

れ

て

い

た

。

In the Edo period, tattooed criminals were made easily recognizable as ex-convicts.

Kanji

入enter, insert
墨black ink, India ink, ink stick
者someone, person

Related words

入いれ墨ずみ
Refers to the tattoo itself, not the person. 入れ墨者 specifically denotes a person who has been tattooed as punishment.

Written forms

入いれ墨ずみ者もの
Standard spelling using 入れ墨 for 'tattoo' and 者 for 'person'.
入いれ墨ずみ者もの
Variant spelling with 入墨, less common but still used.

Etymology

Compound of 入れ墨 (tattoo) + 者 (person). The term is historically tied to the Edo-period practice of tattooing criminals as a form of punishment and identification.