I wish that CBS had used my entire comment but it ended up as a soundbite. The reason most yakuza have liver problems is that they get Hep C from dirty needles during the tattoo process or from using intravenous drugs in their youth. In addition to that, many of them drink a lot which is certainly not good for the liver. (Although lately, the top dogs in the yakuza do not drink at all.) And I’ve been told by many yakuza themselves that the ink used twenty years ago and the great depths that the needle went in to give them tattoos their color did a lot of damage to the skin and made it hard for them to sweat–thus putting even more strain on the liver. I never meant to say that the sweat thing was the primary cause of their liver problems. But hey, I don’t get to edit these thing. From personal experience, I’ll say that people who have tattooed the traditional way have clammy skin as opposed to their untouched skin. I don’t know if the tattoo techniques used today do less damage but I imagine they would be easier on the body.

jakeadelstein | November 4, 2009 8:24 PM