Tattooing of a woman’s hands was widely practiced on Okinawa until about the end of the Meiji era. It was done from fingers to the back of the hand and on to the elbow as “naonna” etiquette. It was seen to provide designed beauty, enchantment and meaning.

The patterns were said to bring the best out of the woman and also fashionable. The practice reportedly continued until close to the beginning of the Showa era although there was a ban on tattooing in effect from 1899.