Japanese
What is Japanese tattooing?
Japanese tattooing, or irezumi, is a tradition with its own grammar: established subjects, conventional pairings of subject and season, and background work that ties a piece to the body. It is usually planned at large scale — a sleeve, a back — rather than as isolated images.
| Looks like | Bold outlines, flowing background of wind and water, traditional subjects at scale. |
|---|---|
| Ages like | Very well. Like traditional work, the strong outline and structured composition are what keep it readable. |
Suits
- Large-scale planned work
- Sleeves and back pieces
- Anyone committing to a long project
What to ask the artist
- Whether they work within the tradition's conventions or adapt them, and which you want
- How the piece is planned to grow, since these are rarely one sitting
- The meaning of the subjects, which are not interchangeable