Today, tattooing is a common practice in many parts of the world. For some people, a tattoo is simply a form of body decoration; for others, it provides a symbol of cultural or group identity. Millions of people, including 30 million in the U.S. alone, have some form of tattoo on their body. However, tattooing may also have a negative image; in Japan, for example, a common perception of people with tattoos is that they are associated with the Japanese mafia, or yakuza as it is called there. Many tattooists in Japan emulate classical Japanese artistic styles in their work. Throughout the world, in fact, tattooists are often referred to as tattoo artists, and many studio employers insist that these artists have some kind of background or training in art before hiring them. Some tattoo artists will have taken university courses in art or related subjects before seeking employment. An artistic background and attention to detail are important for two reasons: first, as with traditional tattooing in indigenous cultures, modern tattoos -for example, a person's astrological symbol or an image of a family member or close friend -may have special meaning to the wearer. The tattoo artist must be able to meet the exact requirements of his or her customers in terms of artistic style and aesthetic quality. Second, because tattooing is a time consuming and often painful procedure, with results that are permanent, it must be done well artistically and very carefully. The stereotypical image of the tattoo parlor as a dingy backstreet shop is , in most cases, far from reality. A modern tattoo studio today is more likely to look like a dentist's office, with waiting room walls adorned with artwork. As needles are used in the tattooing process, cleanliness and hygiene are of the utmost importance. The National Tattoo Association in the U.S. has over a thousand members, and promotes the image of tattooing as a profession with high quality standards. The stereotypical image of tattooists as rebel dropouts is gradually changing. Instead, most tattooists today are regarded as professionals, trained in the art and practice of tattooing. It is common for a tatoo professional tattooist before working independently. Millions of people around the world, many of them famous celebrities, wear their tattoos with pride. For these people, a beautifully created tattoo can be just as much an artistic endeavor as a work of art by a Renaissance painter.
