Criminal Ink: How Tattoos Became Japan’s Most Forbidden Art
Ever wonder how Japanese tattoos went from sacred symbols to signs of crime—and back again? Grab your matcha and settle in, because we’re diving deep (and painfully) into the history of Yakuza tattoos. From ancient fishermen warding off sea monsters to the full-body masterpieces of Edo Japan, this episode of For the Love of History gets under your skin—literally.
TK takes us on a wild ride through Japan’s criminal ink, exploring the ancient roots of irezumi, the artistry behind traditional hand-tapped tattoos, and how Japan’s obsession with “purity” turned body art into a mark of shame. Spoiler: chisels were involved. (Yes, chisels.)
You’ll learn how:
Ancient fishermen believed tattoos could protect them from giant man-eating fish 🐟
Edo-era criminals were branded with tattoos as punishment
The Yakuza transformed those same marks into breathtaking full-body art as a badge of loyalty and endurance
Ukiyo-e artists shaped the style, color, and symbolism of Japanese tattoo design 🎨
The Meiji government banned tattooing in a bid to appear “civilized” to the West
And one daring pathologist preserved tattooed skin to save this outlawed art for future generations (gross but fascinating!)
By the end, you’ll never look at a dragon-and-tiger tattoo the same way again.
💡 Big Takeaway:
Tattoos in Japan tell a story of rebellion, beauty, and resilience. What began as punishment became art, identity, and resistance—etched forever in ink and history.
💬 CTA: If you loved this deep dive into Japan’s criminal ink, leave a review, share the episode, and follow For the Love of History for more weird, wonderful, and rebellious tales from the past.
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Hawaii’s Surfing Medicine Women: The Goddesses Who Healed with Waves
What if surfing wasn’t just a sport—but a sacred form of healing, power, and rebellion led by women? 🏄♀️✨
In this archive episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving into the ancient Hawaiian origins of surfing, uncovering how it began not as a beach pastime but as a deeply spiritual practice rooted in Polynesian tradition. From volcano goddess Pele, the world’s first surfer, to Princess Kelea of Maui, who surfed her way to freedom, we explore the legendary surfing medicine women of Hawaii—women who used the waves as both therapy and resistance.
Discover how:
Surfing (nalu) was a religious ritual in pre-contact Hawaii 🌊
Women, not men, were the first to master and teach surfing 🩵
Surfing was used to heal sickness, heartbreak, and even death
Colonialism tried to erase these women’s stories—and how their legacy still lives on
Join us as we ride the waves of mythology, medicine, and feminist power through the history of Hawaiian surf culture. This episode is part myth, part history, and 100% proof that women have always ruled the waves. 🌴
🌺 Hawaii Peoples Fund 🌺
hawaiipeoplesfund.org
Historians of traditional Hawaiʻi
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The Creepy and Ridiculously Long History of Halloween Costumes | From Samhin to Spirit Halloween
Happy Spooky Season, dear one! This week, in our Season 11 Finale, we are exploring a question that has been on my mind for quite some time. What is the history of Halloween costumes?! 🎃 👻 When October 1st hits, my FYP gets flooded with creepy vintage photographs of Halloween’s gone by. They are honestly nightmare fuel, and every time I see one, I wonder, "Why are they so gosh darn creepy?!" That question led me down a path of 2,000 years of costume history, and against my better judgment, some Victorian Halloween History.
In this episode, we'll explore:
👻 The history of Halloween costumes
🫀 The origin of Halloween
🎃 Why vintage Halloween costumes are so creepy
🧟 The evolution of the Halloween costume
💀 How seriously the Victorians took Halloween
So what are you waiting for?! Let's get our spooky on and learn all about Halloween history, and maybe you can get some Halloween historical costume inspiration
💙💛History BFF Census💙💛
✨ If you enjoyed this episode and want to watch how I made the Victorian witch costume, you can head over to Patreon to watch the full creation vlog!
patreon.com/fortheloveofhistorypodcast
🎃 If you want to support the podcast in other ways, check out the links below!
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#halloweenhistory #halloween #costumehistory #historyofhalloween #victoriancostumes #halloweencostumes
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The History of Breast Cancer: From Ancient Curses to Modern Hope
In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.
Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.
With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.
✨ You’ll learn:
How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.
Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.
How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.
The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.
💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.
metavivor.org
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The History of Breast Cancer: From Ancient Curses to Modern Hope
In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.
Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.
With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.
✨ You’ll learn:
How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.
Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.
How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.
The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.
💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.
metavivor.org
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
À propos de For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history
I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!
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