Kensho II
Since 2003, I have been tattooing using traditional Japanese tattoo methods(Tebori) & instruments(Sashibo).
I began apprenticeship with my predecessor Takehisa Muramatsu who is Honke Horiyoshi aka Kensho 1st in 2000. I was simply a customer of my predecessor. He liked me. I am not sure why. One day, he asked, “Do you want to become tattoo artist?” “Yes sensei,” I replied. From that point, I started my tattooing career. Normally, it’s very difficult to be given the chance to become a tattoo apprentice in Japan, especially…
IREZUMI
Irezumi (刺青) means tattoo in Japanese and has existed since the Edo era. Traditional Japanese tattooing is a form of popular culture that has flourished since the late Edo period(around 300 years ago). However, there is usually a time lag before it is recognized by the public and officially documented, so my personal opinion is that it was probably practiced by some…
TEBORI
Tebori is a traditional Japanese tattoo technique that does not use a machine. The instrument I use is called “Sashibo” and the method is called “Tebori”. The literal translation of Tebori(手彫り) is hand carving. The etymology of the word “Tebori” in tattooing is said to have originated from the similarity of the movement of Tebori to an engraving woodblocks for ukiyo-e prints. Tattooist called…
TEGAKI
The literal translation of the word “tegaki” is “hand-drawn. In tattooing, tegaki refers to the technique of drawing directly on the skin with a marker, instead of using a stencil to trace the design on the skin. In traditional Japanese tattooing, designs and backgrounds are arranged to follow the curves of the body and are designed with Souchinbori in mind, so hand-drawing is necessarily more…
TAT | Traditional Tattoo Association
The Internet has become more convenient in recent years, but with it, some tattoo artists has been using photos and designs of others from social media and the Internet without …
AWARDS
Awards received in tattoo contests at the International tattoo convention
PRESS
Interviews from magazines and media