Japanese Style Tattoo Art

A collection of more than one hundred fifty full-color photographs of tattoos created by New York City tattoo artist Rodrigo Melo in the traditional Japanese style.

Thinking of getting a Japanese-style tattoo? Want to avoid a permanent mistake? Japanese Tattoos is an insider's look at the world of Japanese irezumi (tattoos). Japanese Tattoos explains the imagery featured in Japanese tattoos so that readers can avoid getting ink they don't understand or, worse, that they'll regret. This photo-heavy book will also trace the history of Japanese tattooing, putting the iconography and kanji symbols in their proper context so readers will be better informed as to what they mean and have a deeper understanding of irezumi. Tattoos featured will range from traditional tebori (hand-poked) and kanji tattoos to anime-inspired and modern works—as well as everything in between. For the first time, Japanese tattooing will be put together in a visually attractive, informative, and authoritative way. Along with the 350+ photos of tattoos, Japanese Tattoos will also feature interviews with Japanese tattoo artists on a variety of topics. What's more, there will be interviews with clients, who are typically overlooked in similar books, allowing them to discuss what their Japanese tattoos mean to them. Those who read this informative tattoo guide will be more knowledgeable about Japanese tattoos should they want to get inked or if they are simply interested in Japanese art and culture.

This richly illustrated book reveals the meaning and the secrets behind the most significant motifs from traditional Japanese tattooing--such as mythological and supernatural creatures, animals, Buddhist deities, flowers and historical characters--and turns this art form into a path toward personal knowledge and individual expression.

over 50 pages of Japanese influenced tattoo designs. While inspired by traditional Japanese tattoos and art, each design is presented in the artists original style. This second volume of work contains many dragons, koi, flowers, masks and more. Each page is boldly outlined and ready to stencil and tattoo. Japanese Tattoo Designs II is a great book for artists and collectors who want a quality book of Japanese inspired drawings, intended to be used for tattoos, reference, or inspiration.

Reproduces ukiyo-e prints from the incomparable collection of Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Many tattoo connoisseurs consider the Japanese tradition to be the finest in the world for its detail, complexity, and compositional skill. Its style and subject matter are drawn from the visual treasure trove of Japanese popular culture, in particular the colour woodblock prints of the early nineteenth century known as ukiyo-e. This book tells the fascinating story of how ukiyo-e first inspired tattoo artists as the pictorial tradition of tattooing in Japan was just beginning. It explores the Japanese tattoo's evolving meanings, from symbol of devotion to punishment and even to crime, and reveals the tales behind specific motifs. With lush, colourful images of flowers blooming on the arm of a thief, sea monsters coiling across the back of a hero, and legendary warriors battling on the chests of actors, the tattoos in these Japanese prints can offer the same vivid inspiration today as they did two hundred years ago.

A visually rich book about Japanese style tattooing, far-reaching in terms of scope and depth, that offers readers a comprehensive picture of the influence of traditional Japanese tattoos on some of the best tattoo artists working in the genre today. Irezumi, or simply tattooing, has a long history in Japanese culture. Arranged by continents, this book features a varied and diverse selection of 45 top tattoo artists from around the world, from ones whose creations are closely aligned with the traditions and values of classical Japanese tattoos, to those who take a more contemporary approach, using the Japanese style as a stepping stone for expressing their own unique vision and voice. The text is based on interviews with the artists in which they discuss their artistic backgrounds, how they got started in the world of tattooing, how they became interested in the Japanese style, and how they define their work. They also discuss some of their major influences, including other tattoo artists and traditional Japanese art forms such as ukiyo-e woodblock prints. While the earliest recorded history of tattoos is from the 5th century, a 3rd century Chinese account describes how the Japanese would tattoo themselves to delineate social classes and how sailors would apply them as protection against sea monsters. Nearly every page of the book contains large-format and detailed photographs of tattoos by the featured artists, as well as prints of some of their work, that introduce readers to new tendencies in this ancient art, reflecting the characteristics that differentiate it from other tattoo styles and illustrating the growing international popularity of Japanese style in recent years. Far-reaching in terms of scope and depth, this book offers a comprehensive picture of the influence of traditional Japanese tattooing style on some of the best tattoo artists working in the genre today.

This text offers a treatment of the history, symbolism, and social function of tattooing in Japan, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.

More and more people are getting tattoos these days. Whether these are complex traditional symbols or uniquely significant words, tattoos are an expression of the wearer's feelings and desires. As the tattoo profession grows, tattoo artists are perfecting their art, and attracting the attention of an increasing amount of dedicated enthusiasts. In this rising trend, Asian tattoo art, especially that of China and Japan, has gained admirers around the world. Through interviews with artists and the presentation of their work, Oriental Tattoo Art puts the charm of contemporary oriental tattoo art on full display. In addition, Oriental Tattoo Art contains an appendix with nearly 150 traditional oriental symbols and written characters with clear explanations of their unique cultural meanings for the appreciation and use of the reader. Let us pierce the veil of this ancient and alluring profession and learn about the spiritual and artistic worlds of contemporary tattoo artists in China and Japan.