Japanese Tattoo of Nicholas II

While in Japan, Nicholas II demanded to get a tattoo, which somewhat shocked the locals.

There was a reason for their surprise. Japanese citizens were legally banned from getting tattoos in 1872.

Nevertheless, the newspapers wrote that Nicholas got a “tattoo of a dragon more than 1 shaku (about 30 cm) in size on his arm, which he showed off to his confidants with pleasure.”

It took seven hours to get it done; the dragon had yellow horns, green paws and a red belly. It can be seen in some later photographs.

Nicholas II wrote in his diary:

“April 16. Tuesday. I woke up to a wonderful day, the shore was so inviting <…>. The streets and houses in Nagasaki make a wonderfully pleasant impression: everything is perfectly cleaned and looks neat, it’s a pleasure to enter their houses; and the Japanese themselves are such hospitable and welcoming people <…>. We returned to the frigate at 5 o’clock for tea. <…> After dinner I decided to get a tattoo on my right arm – a dragon.” (GA RF. F. 601. Op. 1. D. 225. L. 85–85 rev.)

Ten days later, Nikolai bragged in a letter to his sister, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna:

“We all tattooed ourselves in Nagasaki, as is always done in Japan; I chose an excellent dragon for myself, which is really done magnificently, but I had to work hard for it: I was pricked for 7 hours straight from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m.” (GA RF. F. 662. Op. 1. D. 186. L. 64–67 rev.)

Long before Nicholas II, King Edward VII, his sons Albert and George V, the Austrian Archdukes Rudolf and Franz Ferdinand, Prince Franz von Teck, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and many others had already resorted to the services of Japanese tattoo artists.