japanese tattooing and japanese themes

I'm been trying hard to understand japanese tattooing and what seperates it from other styles and the types of things that are tattooed in japanese style. I'm having trouble however, with a clear definition of what it is and what is tattooed as japanese. Can someone share their thoughts? my research through the internet has been unsuccesfull, i've tried searching japanse tattooing, japanese art, traditional japanese art and other things and just not getting what i need to know. Can anyone help me out? all thoughts appreciated. thanks

This is a hard subject for me too. But everything comes from old folk legends and natures cycles and such. Check out this site and just google the stuff in there. And dont look just for tattoo relations, but everything else. Old myths, stories, folk history, art movements in japan etc. Thats where it comes from. www.irezumi.us/eg/index.html