Inserted mole - Inserted mole

…Body decoration and transformation [Hiroko Yokoyama]
【Japan】

[Carvings]
In the Edo period, the word "irezumi" meant bokukei (ink punishment) and was synonymous with ex-convict, and tattoos as a custom were called "horimono" (carved objects) to distinguish them from other customs. The custom of "irebokuro" (inscribed moles) that arose in the brothels of the Kansai region in the early Edo period is said to have begun as a custom of horimono. This involved prostitutes tattooing moles on the inside of their left upper arm, the number of their partner's age, as proof of their love, or men and women tattooing moles on the base of each other's thumbs, and was also called "kishobori" (praying for love).

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "inserted mole" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…身体装飾身体変工【横山 広子】
【日本】

［彫物］
　江戸時代には〈入墨〉の語は，墨刑（ぼくけい）のことで前科者と同義であり，風俗としての刺青は〈彫物（ほりもの）〉とよばれて区別されていた。江戸初期に関西の遊廓でおこった〈入れぼくろ〉の風習が彫物の風俗の始まりという。これは遊女が愛の証しとして左の二の腕の内側に相手の年齢の数のほくろを入れたり，男女が互いに親指のつけ根にほくろを入れるもので，〈起請（きしよう）彫〉ともよばれた。…

※「入れぼくろ」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報