‘The Japanese Tattoo’ Celebrates the Craftsmen Preserving a Misunderstood Art Form
Author and journalist Manami Okazaki draws from decades of personal relationships to provide an authentic look inside the hidden world of traditional ‘horishi’ masters.
Summary
- Manami Okazaki’s The Japanese Tattoo explores Japan’s tattoo culture
- The book offers rare access to horishi masters and multigenerational tattoo families with an extensive documentation of archival images and new photography
- Retailing at $50 USD via Penguin Random House
Tokyo‑based journalist and author Manami Okazaki has released The Japanese Tattoo, a comprehensive study of Japan’s tattoo culture that bridges tradition and modernity.
It provides an illuminating study of a craft that, while globally recognized, remains widely misunderstood. Okazaki artfully navigates the apparent contradiction defining the contemporary tattoo scene in Japan: the friction between the deeply private, hidden world of traditional horishi (master tattoo artists) and the highly visible, modern landscape of social media. Her close relationships with multigenerational tattoo families also offers rare access to the craft’s inner circles, offering readers an authentic perspective on a practice that is globally admired yet often misunderstood.
Published by Prestel Publishing, the book is enriched by a curated selection of new photography and historical archival images, which serve to decode the complex mythological and seasonal motifs that comprise the traditional irezumi narrative. Preview some of the pages from the book above. The Japanese Tattoo by Manami Okazaki is available through Penguin Random House’s webstore, retailing at $50 USD.
