| Japanese tattoo (irezumi) |
Question:
Does anybody know about the tattoo scene in Japan today?Is it imitative of the new Western fad
or are there links with the Ukiyo-e designs favored by the traditional
horimono? Can anyone recommend books or videos on the subject, in
English, preferably. Also, is anybody familiar with Dr.Fukushi's
skin collection at the University of Tokyo's Medical School?
Answer:
- While I was living there I searched high and low for a tattoo parlor/artist who
would add a tattoo to my collection. No luck. I was told about a few places but I
was also warned they were exclusively for yakuza and that it wouldn't be a good
idea for me to go. I also found out that I probably couldn't have gotten a "too"
because the artists consider the whole body as a canvas to be worked on over a
long period of time and the art is usually the artist's choice. I just wanted
something on my shoulder so I forgot about the whole thing. The other thing was
that some of the yakuza artists still use the old technique of sharp bamboo and ink
instead of the needle machine. Either way it hurts but I thought bamboo shards
would give me nightmares for a while. So....... I dropped the subject for a while
until I met some "yankee"/skater types (skater=skateboarder). Some of them had
tattoos and they were neither yakuza nor bosozoku, just rebels. Anyways, they gave
me the name of a place in Tokyo, Magical Tattoo, which catered to anyone, especially
the rich and famous (Lenny Kravitz got one of his there). Unfortunately I never
made it there but the day I left the country I met a Candian aquaintance of mine who
did and had gotten a small tattoo on her hip of a phoenix. It was an amazing piece
of work which made feel I had really missed out. So next time I go back I'll try
that place.
- Tatoos are exclusively a yakuza thing to do over there, unlike the West
where it's become incraseingly fashionable among the higher classes.
Because there is a strong equation of tatoos = yakuza, no one gets them
besides yakuza. The yakuza themselves would most likely beat up non-yakuzas
with tatoos. On the other hand, tatoos have become less fashionable among
yakuzas because of their giveaway value. Younger "elite" yakuzas increasingly
prefer to do con-businessman type activities, such as credit card fraud,
etc. There is a book called "Research series" which has divverent issues
on tatoo, body piercings, etc.
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