Tasuki Cross

The Tasuki has no particular meaning, yet remains a popular identity in Japan.

Tasuki Cross

Bosozuko gang member

Just as Hell's Angels sport the Biker Cross like the Teutonic knights of old, this blood red Tasuki Cross is used as tribal identification for a Japanese bosozuko biker gang (now a rare species) in their attempt to mimic the ancient Samurai.

Male members of Japanese ouendan (cheerleading squads) often wear a similar red sash over their classic high school tunics.

Samurai warriors used a tasuki sash to tuck up their long sleeves, which would otherwise handicap their sword fighting. The method was also used, and still is used, by kimono wearers involved in manual work, for example staff in Japanese hotels and restaurants.

Kishidan fan
(Click to enlarge)

On the left we see a fan waiting to take part in a promotional video for the Japanese pop group Kishidan ("The Knights"), wearing a white tasuki on top of her over-sized red high school tunic. Under the tasuki is a black Cross Fleurée bearing the group's name.

(Kishidan are classic rock'n'roll: Seriously wild, ridiculously loud and energetically theatrical. See http://www.kishidan.com/)

Taiko drummer

The tasuki is also worn by those taking part in traditional Japanese festivals (matsuri), even when there are no sleeves in the costume, as in this taiko drummer.

For any 'symbolic meaning' of the tasuki, we could note that the 'X' forms a St. Andrew's Cross and for around two thousands years, the meaning of the Christian cross has been thoroughly promulgated.

We could also note that the tasuki is constructed as a lemniscate infinity symbol , which has profound meaning (see Everlasting Cross). Rotating the lemniscate 90 degrees gives the figure '8', and eight is an auspicious number in Japanese.

Saoirse Ronan as Briony in the 2007 film 'Atonement'

But for the tasuki, there is no Christian nor any other traditional meaning. (Both the infinity symbol and the '8' are Western symbols, and neither has any connection with Samurai.)

The only symbolism for tasuki is its assumed tough-guy image and commonly used as a fashion statement, just as the Christian cross is worn as a fashion accessory (see Jewelry Cross). The original purpose of the tasuki was as a practical way to fasten clothing; similar to the crossing red straps used to secure a nurse's old-fashioned cape. The cape's braces have no meaning, yet they enforce the image of the wearing being a healthcare worker (see Red Cross).

And let's face it; nursing is a much tougher role than riding in a noisy bike gang.