Guest Blog: Horiyoshi III on Tattooing Women
02:34 PM
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John Mack continues his weekly guest blog post on his experience getting
tattooed by Horiyoshi
III over the course of nine years. Check out his previous posts: Part
I, Part
II, Part
III, Part
IV, Part
V, Part
VI, Part
VII, Part
VIII and Part IX.
 In all my time at Horiyoshi III's studios, I have seen a female client just three times. The studios have no private room. My appointments were always in the afternoon, so initially I guessed that perhaps women's appointments were in the morning when somehow greater privacy was afforded them. As I've already told you, there was often a squad of male apprentices and tattoo enthusiasts present. Undressing and getting tattooed in front of them would surely give pause to most women. It certainly intimidated me at first. I avoid talking about other clients, so I did not ask about it for many years, but in 2009, I finally inquired with Horiyoshi about his female clientele. "John-san," he said in a slightly incredulous tone. "Now, how often have you seen women in my studios?" I admitted that most of the women I had seen were journalists. I asked why he had so few female clients. "They just don't come here. It's hard for them to undress; it's uncomfortable. Personally, that's better for me. Frankly, I would rather not tattoo women." -- Horiyoshi's practice is now limited to finishing existing clients' tattoos, and we all keep him really busy. As I have repeatedly witnessed, all new clients are politely referred elsewhere.  |
Tattoo TAGS: femal tattoo guest blog horimono Horiyoshi III |
4 Comments
RESPECT
"They just don't come here. It's hard for them to undress; it's uncomfortable. Personally, that's better for me. Frankly, I would rather not tattoo women."
I think that is kind of bizarre. I wonder how pervasive that attitude is among other practitioners of horimono?
It never quite occurred to me that having to tattoo women would be the downside of a career in tattooing. I too found this surprising.
The market in Japan for smaller "one point" tattoos probably has a female/male ratio similar to other countries. However, I think that Japanese clients who seek large, traditional Japanese tattoos are mostly men, irrespective of the tattooists' preferences or facilities.
I feel compelled to mention that I have never witnessed any sign of disrespect for women--this seems to be nothing more than a professional preference.
i appreciate his honesty