At a small, clinically-lit studio in Tokyo’s Roppongi district, fearsome warriors and mythical creatures glare out from paper drawings lining the perimeter of the space. The tattooist here, who asked ...

Japanese animal tattoos are a traditional form of tattooing known as Irezumi, rich in symbolism and cultural history. Each animal motif in Japanese tattoos carries a distinct meaning and tells a story ...

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TRADITIONAL JAPANESE TATTOO ARTIST, SHODAI HORIREN, SAYING: "A tattoo will absolutely be with you until you die. For example, a house may collapse, you may break up with a lover ...

From starkly rendered waves crashing over a shoulder to a stern samurai warrior wielding a sword on one’s back, the striking designs expressed in Japanese tattoos are among the most iconic in the ...

One of Japan’s top tattoo artists creates traditional Japanese art on a woman’s back during a cultural performance for the press in Tokyo. The presentation aimed to introduce the historical and ...

From anime girls to abstract shapes, Japanese tattooing has changed. Or has it? Throughout my book Japanese Tattoos, a wide variety of classic motifs are presented. Some of them are well over a ...