Thanks Joe, I think the use of tattoos as criminal branding is probably the case in quite a few countries.

I didn't know that the Japanese frowned on tattoos quite so much, but growing up in Cambridge, where we had many Japanese visitors, I don't remember ever seeing any with tattoos.

I meant to say to you before, Norwich where I live now enjoys a strong connection with Japan. We have the Sainsbury Institute for the study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. I will write more about this connection in a future story but you may want to check out their website. https://www.sainsbury-institute.org/