Irezumi, honored and alive.
Bold compositions and symbolic imagery in the rich tradition of irezumi — custom-crafted to honor the art form and your story.
What Japanese tattooing entails
Japanese tattooing is a language: the dragon for wisdom, the koi for perseverance, the samurai for courage, the peony for prosperity — set against wind bars, clouds and water that make the piece flow with the body as one composition. Nothing is placed at random; every element earns its position.
Yuki Tanaka trained in this tradition and builds every bodysuit, sleeve and back piece as a unified work across multiple sessions — outline, background, color or black-and-grey, in that classical order.
- Dragons, koi, samurai, hannya, peonies and winds
- Authentic background work that unifies the composition
- Multi-session bodysuits with a fixed long-term plan
A year-long composition, built in order.
Story
Choose your symbols with Yuki — meaning first, then placement and scale.
Outline
The full composition is outlined in sittings, front and back balanced.
Background
Wind, cloud and water fill unifies every element into one flow.
Finish
Shading or color, then a final review sitting to perfect the whole.
How long does a back piece take?
A full back piece typically runs 6–10 full-day sessions across 8–14 months. The classical order — outline, background, finish — cannot be rushed.
Can I get a small Japanese-style tattoo?
Yes — a single koi, peony or hannya mask works beautifully at medium scale. Yuki will keep the symbolism intact even in a smaller piece.
What does it cost?
Large Japanese work is quoted per project after consultation, with a fixed total and a session schedule — so the commitment is clear from day one.
