Tebori Now: The Japanese Tattoo in 2026, Part Three

One artist refused to pay a fine and changed the law for everyone. Josh Sirlin on the 2020 Supreme Court ruling and the state of irezumi today.

Ink Before the Ban: The Tattoo in Old Japan, Part One

The samurai are not who you think. The tattooed men of Edo were firemen, laborers and gamblers. Josh Sirlin on the first chapter of the Japanese tattoo.

Getting Tattooed in Tokyo: The Living Art of Irezumi

Dragons and koi born from woodblock prints, applied by hand, one session at a time. Josh Sirlin on irezumi, the tebori craft, and getting tattooed in Tokyo.

Culture, Heritage, JapanJosh SirlinJuly 20, 2026irezumi, tebori, japanese tattoo, tokyo tattoo, tattoo history japan, ukiyo-e tattoo, horishiComment

Japanese Tattoo and America's Love Affair With the Needle

Dragons, koi, and full-body suits born from woodblock prints — and an ocean-crossing love affair. The history of Japanese tattoo, and why America fell for the needle.

The Hand-Carved Soul of Japanese Tattooing

Hand-carved, not machined. The centuries-deep story of irezumi and Tokyo's Horitoshi lineage, from someone who's spent a decade going to Japan.

Japan & CultureJosh SirlinJune 28, 2026tebori, irezumi, Japanese tattoo, Horitoshi, Tokyo, Edo, wabori, Black Bear BrandComment