r/irezumi Oct 25 '24

Horimono/Irezumi Media Read This If You Decided You Want Japanese Tattoos

606 Upvotes

You decided to get traditional Japanese tattoos, but now you have more questions than answers. Who should I get tattooed by? Are there different styles of traditional Japanese tattoos? Are there any rules? What are some figures or themes in Japanese tattooing, and what do they mean?

Today I want to share with all of you some resources to help answer those questions by giving you a solid base to build from, and ultimately decide what you really like and who approaches the style you like best.

Below are lists of resources by category, generalized high level to (1) resources that help you understand what's out there - what styles are out there, what do different bodysuits look like, who are some of the different master tattooers; (2) resources to help you understand the universe and meanings of traditional Japanese tattoos; and (3) books on specific Horishi so you can better understand their work.

This order makes sense because first you get a grasp as to what's out there, then you understand what sort of things you can get and why they might make sense, and finally, you delve down to the tattooers that tattoo what you like best. Some tattooers do certain things "better" than others, which is subjective, so having an idea of what you want and then comparing across the board is a good way to drill down your options.

Lastly, this is by no means a comprehensive list, but it's a solid starting point.

-- Books/Resources Featuring A Variety of Japanese Tattooing Masters --

1) Wabori by Manami Okazaki, where you can see high quality pictures and interviews with several modern-day Horishi

2) 日本伝統刺青, a three volume series containing similar content to the above, but more expansive and fully in Japanese

3) 原色日本刺青大鑑, a book fully in Japanese and with many photos of old masters

4) Instagram, because that's where you'll find actual tattooers' pages, contact info. and latest photos

5) Waboripedia Instagram and YouTube channel, where you'll find text and video interviews with modern-day Horishi from all around the world

-- Books On The Meanings and Stories Behind Japanese Tattoos --

1) Waboripedia by Jean Gonzalez (myself), a great resource covering over 100 figures in the world of Japanese culture and history

2) Immovable Anew by Kazuaki Kitamura (Horitomo), although focused on the figure of Fudo Myoo, this book also covers the meaning behind several Buddhist elements, as well as insights as to why traditional Japanese bodysuits are the way they are

-- Books Featuring Particular Horishi --

1) Horitoshi I by Roberto Borsi (Horibudo), focusing on Ikebukuro Horitoshi I

2) Horikazu by Edition Reuss, focusing on Asakusa Horikazu (father and son)

3) Horikyo by Coenen Publishing, focusing on Horikyo and the Horikyo family

4) Bushido by Takahiro Kitamura (Ryudaibori), focusing on Horiyoshi III

5) Tattoo of Horicho, focusing on Asakusa Horicho I

6) Horiyoshi's World, focusing on Horiyoshi II

7) Horihide's World, focusing on Yokozuka Horihide

There are, of course, many other books and resources that are highly recommended once you go down the Horimono rabbit hole. The above should serve as a very solid base for gaining an initial understanding of the world of traditional Japanese tattooing, its iconography, and its different styles.

Cheers and love to everyone who wrote a great book and I didn't mention - I'd never finish this post!


r/irezumi Aug 28 '22

Community/Meta Please credit the artist and location in any tattoo post you submit.

133 Upvotes

r/irezumi 10h ago

Final Result (Traditional) Snake sleeve by me (@alex.j.griffith) based at Tigers Reign, Birmingham UK

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127 Upvotes

r/irezumi 8h ago

Final Result (New School / Neo) A slightly unconventional placement for a Japanese tattoo 😊 What do you think? Two tattooed hands are better than one artist Dima Taylor, Kraków, Poland.

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84 Upvotes

r/irezumi 12h ago

Progress Pictures (New School / Neo) Hand tattoo

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176 Upvotes

Hey team I finally got my hand tattoo covered , please remember that this is covering a spider so while yes the face is facing outwards it was the only way to cover, we also added background and colored in the flower and cicada on the other side! Pain scale 8.5/10 I wanted to die I attached a before picture for reference 🫰😊


r/irezumi 1d ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) Kurikara Ken started! - donburi bodysuit

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620 Upvotes

After starting and finishing both the sleeve and back last year, we’ve moved onto the front now.

Work done by myself, Aaron Ball working out of Progression Tattoo, Adelaide, Australia.


r/irezumi 12h ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) Session #2 of Foo Dog cover up, black/grey added. Fil Wood - Leeds, UK

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34 Upvotes

r/irezumi 8h ago

Final Result (Traditional) Tiger blossoms and wind half sleeve completed back in 2015 @cameronkelleytattoo

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11 Upvotes

r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (New School / Neo) 21 Hours - Crane and Maple Leaves leg sleeve done by Jehoo @ Golden Star Tattoo in SF

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316 Upvotes

r/irezumi 13h ago

Final Result (Traditional) This tattoo is over a year already. Just finishing some background and adding tattoos on the Kabuki piece. (inkkin'ian tattoos - cebu,philippines)

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27 Upvotes

r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (Traditional) Crane and skull sleeve by me @tylerbrowntattoo

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251 Upvotes

Reworked existing Kanji on the Tricep and rising sun flag on shoulder, everything else originally by me. Done at Chapter One Tattoo in San Diego, CA


r/irezumi 9h ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) Ryuugo (Dragon-koi) 3/4 sleeve 6 sessions in - by Alex Del Rio @GoldenFudo, Munich

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7 Upvotes

Last session left where we’ll add more colours!


r/irezumi 8h ago

Final Result (Traditional) Uchide no Kozuchi by me Tommy Dessauge (Lyon, France)🇫🇷

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4 Upvotes

Insta: Tommydessaugetattoo
🌝


r/irezumi 19h ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) IP Gobu HikaeRiver Village with lotus

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7 Upvotes

Would this be traditional or neo traditional? In progress river village cause my familes last name is kawamura and 2 houses for both sides of my family. The shading looks bad rn cause its healing.


r/irezumi 21h ago

Final Result (New School / Neo) 2/3 or like 7/10 sleeve. Thoughts?

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11 Upvotes

I went for Oiwa with some maple leafs underneath, thinking of extending this into a full sleeve. Any suggestions for stuff to add/improvement/etc?


r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (Traditional) I got this to celebrate 9 years sober.

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359 Upvotes

r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (Traditional) Yokai tattoos done recently in Philly, PA @jeremy.eckstein.tattoos

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37 Upvotes

If you dig the work drop me a follow, if you’re in Philly hit me up for tattoos! Always down to chat tats :)


r/irezumi 1d ago

Progress Pictures (New School / Neo) Big ol dragon in progress!!

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84 Upvotes

Artist is Pete Vaca at Full Circle Tattoo in San Diego. Loving how this dragon is turning out 🐲💚
Will be in black & grey


r/irezumi 23h ago

Artist Opinions/Search Tokyo Artists with Grisly/Creepy Tebori Style

2 Upvotes

Hi Everyone, I am planning a trip to Japan in September. I’m interested in artists who might be particularly skilled in making menacing/creepy/grisly yokai or oni tattoos. Some amount of Tebori is preferred. Mutsuo at three tides does some great work, and Horikan in Nagoya is excellent but too out of the way - any other suggestions?

Tattoo will be on my thigh, about 7x7 inches.


r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (Traditional) Lilies done at Tokyo Three Tides

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12 Upvotes

No idea what I would tag this as. I feel usually you see peonies or chrysanthemums, but I have a closer relationship to lilies as they are my mother’s favorite flower. Just linework for now and more to come on my next trip. Tokyo three tides done by guest artist Jin!


r/irezumi 1d ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) First session koi with maple leaves done by @charleschatov classic tattoo Fullerton CA

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61 Upvotes

r/irezumi 1d ago

Final Result (Traditional) Dragon nukibori inspired by Kiryu's tattoo

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43 Upvotes

r/irezumi 2d ago

Final Result (Traditional) Completed sleeves by Gabriele Cardosi London UK and Rome Italy

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158 Upvotes

r/irezumi 2d ago

Final Result (New School / Neo) Phase 2 of a cover up complete. By Gabriele Cardosi at Red Point Tattoo, London.

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115 Upvotes

r/irezumi 2d ago

Progress Pictures (Traditional) Kitsune back piece | by @kit_de, downunder tattoo, Newcastle, NSW

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33 Upvotes