The way of the Ink

Irezumi, the age-old traditional Japanese tattoo art continues to amaze and mesmerize people from all over the world. Journalist Pascal Bagot is filmed during one of his artistic journeys to Japan, filled with cherry blossom, dragons and Kois. He is privileged to have a traditional tattoo artist, a horishi, working on a tattoo covering his back. This film cleverly combines impressive images of the tattoo technique with interviews showing the changing opinion on tattoos in contemporary Japanese society.

Social Interest

In Japan, tattoos have often been associated with the Japanese organized crime, the yakuza. At the beginning of the Meiji period, the Japanese government outlawed tattoos. Even though tattooing was legalized in 1948 and tattoos are gaining in popularity among the younger generation, they still have not shaken off their taboo status. For example, people with tattoos are still shunned from public baths.

Artistic Relevance

The Japanese tattoo art Irezumi implies tattooing by using tebori, the traditional Japanese hand method developed in the late 18th century. This method involves imprinting designs under the human skin with special ink called nara ink. Irezumi is a time consuming technique; having a body suit done can take up to hundreds of hours. The artist or master, called a Horishi, usually has one or more apprentices working for him for a long period of time. The apprentices become a part of the horishis tattoo family.

Scenes

Hiroshi at work on tattoo: part 1
Horishi Horitoshi is working on the Irezumi tattoo on the back of journalist Pascal Bagot. This is a process that will take over years to finish.
Irezumi types
Horishi Horitoshi explains different types and designs that are a part of the Irezumi tradition. Furthermore, he explains how he works on his tattoos.
Buddhist statue of Acala
Buddha statue in the studio of horishi Horitoshi has an important meaning. The statue of Acala, ‘the immovable one’ is a popular Buddhist figure.
The history of Irezumi
Here, we learn about the development of Irezumi in the Edo period. The curator of the Japanese museum ‘Ota Memorial, museum of art’ discusses artist Kuniyoshi and the Suikoden tale, both very important for the Irezumi tradition.
Hiroshi at work on tattoo, part 2.
Here, we see horishi Horitoshi at work again. He talks about his techniques and his relationship with his apprentices.
Japanese woman with full body tattoo
Yoko, a Japanese woman, shows her Irezumi tattoo that covers her entire body. The tattoo has been made by a hiroshi, a Japanese tattoo artist.
Hiroshi at work on tattoo: part 3
Irezumi artist Horitoshi is working on the tattoo of Pascal Bagot. He talks about the difficulty of his work and the difference between hand-and machine tattooing.
Finished Irezumi: customers speak
Only 20% of the customers of Japanese Irezumi artist Horitoshi get to see their finished tattoos. Here, two of these customers talk about the tattooing process, the pain and show their tattoos.
Tattoo taboo in Japan
In Japan, tattoos are still a taboo becasue they are often associated with Yakuza, the Japanese maffia. In this clip, a woman with tattoos tells about her negative experiences.