#itezumi

[ryugendo]

孫悟空 対 羅刹女 Son Gokū vs. Rasetsujo #孫悟空 #羅刹女 #songoku #rasetsujo #sunwokong #monkyking #princessironfan #traditionaltattoo #tegaki #tebori #traditionaljapanesetattoo #itezumi #wabori #ryugen #刺青 #手描き #手彫り #和彫り #伝統刺青 (Ryugendo Traditional Japanese Tebori Tattooing) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZlIReiFwxj/?utm_medium=tumblr

[horimutsu]

Finally finish cover up #koi #koi fish #carp #japanesetattoo #itezumi #coveruptattoo #coverup #鯉 #刺青 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1WeA6hfUg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1avjyxjd1unh6

[designresearchninasem2]

Possible Research Areas

Some possible topics of interest for this research paper may be the stigmatization of the Irezumi Tattoo in Japan or the westernization of the Irezumi style or possibly a combination of both. 

The first thing I think of for Irezumi is where the art was derived. Japan is certainly the mother country and the founder, but the source art for most of today’s tattooing was founded by woodblock prints that were bought and sold around the world. In fact a large part of inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh was from time he spent there looking at that artwork. In that sense, this style and significance of art could be argued to have been meant to be spread and shared.

Second, Japan has done a fairly lengthy job of spreading their culture throughout the planet before and after art. Besides military might, and the Japanese impact on Asia (and elsewhere). This is not meant to mean they are imperialistic, but they are willing to share and integrate with other cultures. I think of some of the cultural history around their stories, folk heroes, and myths much akin to the Greeks and Romans. Because their cultures have ties in so closely with one another it is hard to separate.

Why this particular art form resonates with me in particular. What I find charming about the history of Irezumi in particular is that the art is for close friends and family mainly. As opposed to western tattooing and American counterculture, I have always looked at Yakuza or other heavily tattooed in irezumi style as someone with an alternate identity to them. Under the suit and clothes they are a very different person and I find that brilliant.

On the topic of westernisation I think at this point the majority of people with Irezumi tattoos are most likely westerners. In Japan it’s highly stigmatized to have tattoos so I think what you see is people who admire it and want to keep those artists in business. After all Japan does a great job in exporting their culture and is in a bit of a tourism boom currently. I can see both sides, at the core of it, it’s something really traditional with lots of history and meaning behind it and then suddenly a foreigner says “that looks cool, I want one” and then everyone starts to get them. It’s unavoidable that it has spread out of Japan, but just consider the dynamics in the whole practice and the time we are living in. It’s a digital age and information spreads rapidly and becomes easily accessible. You no longer have to travel to Japan to find an artist who can do it. Perhaps exploring the cultural impact behind how widespread the style has become could be interesting in terms of possible appropriation and paying respect to the original japanese culture Irezumi is derived from.

Perhaps the research and essay structure could follow these points of interest: symbolism and meaning of the itezumi tattoo (research into the folklore and ancient myths), how Japan’s history of the tattoo ties into it (yakuza and stigmatisation/ generalisation of those who chose to wear tattoos), and then the spread of the style and how it got popularised internationally as a recognised tattooing style. I’m not sure whether this is too broad of a scope but I believe that can be drawn together towards a cohesive essay.

[ryugendo]

鯉 Koi #鯉 #koi #七分袖 #traditionaltattoo #traditionaljapanesesleeve #traditionaltattoo #tebori #traditionaljapanesetattoo #itezumi #wabori #ryugen #刺青 #手彫り #和彫り #伝統刺青 (Ryugendo Traditional Japanese Tebori Tattooing) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXs0FJTlGFS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ryugendo]

鯉の滝登り #鯉 #koi #鯉の滝登り #手描き #tegaki #traditionaltattoo #tebori #traditionaljapanesetattoo #itezumi #wabori #ryugen #刺青 #手彫り #和彫り #伝統刺青 (Ryugendo Traditional Japanese Tebori Tattooing) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZggPybrgmV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[horimutsu]

Day 2nd Daruma @bayareatattooconvention #daruma #darumatattoo #itezumi #達磨 #刺青 #bayareatattooconvention #bayareatattooconvention2018 https://www.instagram.com/p/BpMKVFSjYXp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17bwx1db09pqe