Tokyo tattoos

September 10, 2005 9:17 AM

The girlfriend and I are going to Tokyo for a week's vacation in October. She'd like to get a tattoo while she's there (she already has a couple). The designs she has in mind (probably a Haeckel piece) would require a very skilled tattoo artist, I'd think. Any recommendations?
posted by intermod to Travel & Transportation around Tokyo, Japan (8 answers total)

You can bum around BME and see if you find anybody. If you read Japanese, you might also find something on BME Japan (I don't read Japanese, so I can't tell you if there's anything of use there).

I've never been to Japan, but from everything I hear: in Japan, tattoos are not at all mainstream. They are still viewed as tied to organized crime, and many establishments such as public baths will refuse to allow you to enter if you have ink. Consequently, I suspect that you will have great difficulty in finding an artist qualified to do those designs.

If it were me, I would definitely do that design in the States with my regular tattoo artist.
posted by Netzapper at 11:14 AM on September 10, 2005

Why do you want to get the tattoo in Japan? It seems like it would be a lot easier to find a good artist here in the US where everyone speaks the same language...
posted by delmoi at 1:37 PM on September 10, 2005

I'd imagine someone at Needled would be able to help you. It looks like they have a post on Japanese tattoo artists right now, and that may have a good lead.
posted by fionab at 1:46 PM on September 10, 2005

I presume your girlfriend wants the tattoo in Japan as a memento of the trip - understandable. However as tattoos are still largely extreme fringe culture and associated with organized crime, as Netzapper mentioned, you may have difficulty locating an artist. On top of that, finding one who has experience with more non-stereotypical "artistic" designs such as the Haeckel organic art will be even more challenging. That said, I think fionab's link is a good start for finding more contacts.

I advise that you should keep your tattoos covered for the most part while traveling in Japan. While it is gradually becoming more accepted with the younger generation (mostly small, one point tattoos), there is still a significant social stigma against visible tattoos.

Good luck in your search.
posted by junesix at 6:05 PM on September 10, 2005

Best answer: Japanese will look at the tattoos of a gaijin and not think twice about it, especially in the larger cities. Of course, as long as you're not one of those people that tattoo really obvious body parts like hands and the face. And tattoos on young people are becoming more and more common, I think. They used to be exclusively associated with the Yakuza, but it's pretty obvious that the hipster/punk/metal/whatever young people with 'em ain't Yakuza.

I don't know where you can find a parlor, though I see them here and there. Sorry, don't know specifics. But I second the opinion that you'd be better off getting a tat in the states--buy a kimono or katana instead. Also, don't expect the English level to be that of a European city--you likely will run into some communication problems, somthing important for a tat, methinks.
posted by zardoz at 3:49 AM on September 11, 2005

This is a New York City tattoo artist, so it doesn't answer your question about where to get a tattoo in Japan, but I've always thought this guy would be the first person I'd go to if I wanted to get something really delicate or detailed like the pictures you mention. To see what he can do, check out his portfolio, especially this one.
posted by MsMolly at 7:01 AM on September 11, 2005

It's a really need idea, getting a tattoo in Japan... but as has been mentioned here already: it's really, really a fringe culture type of thing. I put my vote in for getting it done in the US and finding something else sweet to bring home from Japan (and there are plenty of great things!)

Oh, and by the way, as a foreigner with a tattoo don't expect any kind of social stigma other than a few stares, perhaps.
posted by dead_ at 7:56 AM on September 12, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the great responses. I marked one as "best", but you're all my favorites, you know.
posted by intermod at 7:01 PM on September 13, 2005