The Tamatori hime tattoos are very popular across many countries and through many culture,the meaning and reason for wearing them are often similar though.

The legend states she cut her self open in order to store the bead and therefore speed up her swim. She did reach the shore but subsequently died of her self inflicted injuries,falling to her own desperation and greed. The variations on the legend expand the story and say how hime was a pearl diver and was trying to retrieve the bead which had been dropped into the lake by the Chinese emperor,the bead being a gift for his Japanese equivalent.