Traveller's suitcase

April 12, 2010 5:12 PM

Help me find a tattoo artist in both Korea and Japan while giving me advice how to communicate what I want and what the artist thinks I need.

I want to be one of those suitcases that have stickers from the places it has been. I am looking for really good artists who can help me. I would like modern and traditional styles (non-gun). I would like some insight on the etiquette of getting tattooed in Japan and Korea. I do not want to just choose from the wall or some book. I would like to communicate with the artist to collaborate on a design. Where is a good place to find recommendations for artists around the world? Anyone have experiences getting tattooed abroad and have advice to share?

Thank you for your advice~

posted by Knigel to society & culture (7 answers total)

In Korea your tattoo opportunities are going to be limited but this may be for the better.
Korea is not a place where tattoos are popular, but you might be in luck because they've just started popping up in the last year or two. If you want a hip and modern tat you'll need to go to Hong Dae neighborhood in Seoul where all the hipsters hang out. The advantage to a tattoo shop or even locating a local who doesn't have a shop but does work out of someone's house, etc, is that the movement there is relatively new and you might find some exciting work. Just go to a local indie music bar and chat up a guy with tats. But beware you will also find some guys with little experience and whose designs are quite outdated

I'm not sure where traditional tats are done, but their clientele would be primarily people involved in gangs and it would be a bit strange for a foreigner to have that kind of art done.
Out of context it might be fine, but in the context of Korea itself it would seem a bit tacky and rednecky to get a gangster tat, a dragon, etc. Traditional Korean figures look cool outside of country too, but make sure you get someone who really knows the history of HanCha so you can get something truly meaningful. It looks a bit silly to Koreans to have the word water in Chinese letters (HanCha) written on your arm, but then again outside of country it wouldn't matter.

I have seen some cool work in Korea!

Japan, I imagine, would be a wonderful playground with endless opportunities.
posted by manwoo at 5:39 PM on April 12, 2010

Chopstick Tattoo
posted by KokuRyu at 5:48 PM on April 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

I know an awesome tattoo artist in Busan who speaks English. He's done a bunch of my friends, and I'm getting one from him in a few months. Memail me if you want his info.
posted by canadia at 6:30 PM on April 12, 2010

If you get a tat in Japan, you may want to seek out a traditional "Tebori" tattoo artist. These are done by hand instead of a gun. More time and labor intensive as well as costly I imagine but the bragging rights would be so worth it.
posted by cazoo at 8:37 PM on April 12, 2010

Traditionally, as I undersatnd it, tattoos and tattooing have had generally negative connotations in Korean culture, so I'm not sure you'll find much of a rich tattooing heritage there. Here's a recent article that might help you out.
posted by Busoni at 7:32 AM on April 13, 2010

Seconding Chopstick. A friend just finished getting his done there (1, 2, 3). Looking through the galleries some of the tattoos have been done tebori/by hand as well.

They also have English speaking staff and you can arrange appointments and such through email if you're flying in from outside of Japan.
posted by emmling at 7:35 AM on April 13, 2010

Belated 3rding of Chopstick. I got mine done there the 1st time living in Japan. Almost 9 years ago and tat still looks as fresh as the day it was done. Patient staff - really willing/eager to listen and help plan.
posted by TravellingCari at 7:41 PM on June 26, 2010