So You Want A Japanese Tebori Tattoo | Tattoo Styles
TLDRThis video script delves into the art of traditional Japanese tattooing, known as 'Tabora,' which uses bamboo handles and Nara ink derived from burnt oil. It contrasts this with modern tattooing machines, discussing the evolution of tattoo styles from hand-tapped techniques to realism and illustrative influences. The speaker, Jesse N, reflects on his journey, mentors, and the cultural significance of tattoos in Asia, where they carry symbolism and are often stigmatized. He also touches on the technical aspects of tattooing, including the pain levels and the transition from handmade to machine-based methods.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Tabora is a traditional Japanese tattoo technique that uses bamboo handles and is influenced by woodblock prints.
- 🖌️ The color palette in traditional Japanese tattoos is limited, primarily using Nara ink, which is made from smoke and offers a range of colors, with red being a popular choice.
- 🌟 Gold and other colors in tattoos may signify certain levels or statuses, with dragons representing different meanings based on their color and posture.
- 🛠️ The artist combines traditional techniques with new school illustrative designs, creating a unique style that blends old and new.
- ⏳ The artist values the longevity of poor line work in tattoos, as it 'goes forever,' and appreciates the whole school styles.
- 🌐 After spending over 20 years in the States, the artist's work has been influenced by realism and illustrative styles.
- 👶 The artist's journey began with homemade tattoos using sewing needles and Nara ink, learning from a mentor in the traditional way.
- 🔨 The artist did not complete a formal apprenticeship but has learned from various artists, viewing one as a hero and seeking recognition for a holy name.
- 🎭 The design and concept are paramount in tattooing, with significant time spent on composition and flow to create depth and three-dimensionality.
- 🐉 The symbolism in tattoos is rich, with koi fish representing good luck and perseverance, dragons symbolizing power, and phoenixes representing rebirth.
- 💉 The process of tattooing can be painful, with some clients preferring the slower, more traditional tapori method over the faster machine method.
Q & A
What is Tabora and how is it related to traditional Japanese tattooing?
-Tabora is a technique used in traditional Japanese tattooing, where the tap, or needle, is poked using the hand. It involves using a bamboo handle, which is a characteristic of the traditional Japanese tattoo style. The designs and ideas often come from woodblock prints.
What are the limitations regarding color usage in traditional Japanese tattoos?
-Traditional Japanese tattoos have limited color usage due to the use of Nara ink, which is made from smoke and offers a range of colors but not as vibrant or diverse as modern tattoo inks. Red is a popular color that can be used by everyone, while gold and other colors may be restricted to certain levels or styles.
How does the artist described in the script combine traditional techniques with modern styles?
-The artist mixes traditional techniques with new school illustrative designs, creating a fusion of styles. They appreciate the whole school styles but also incorporate realism and illustrative influences from being in the United States for over 20 years.
What was the artist's initial experience with tattooing?
-The artist's initial experience with tattooing involved using sewing needles and Nara ink to create small tattoos, such as kanji or symbols, for friends and classmates during their teenage years.
Who is considered a mentor to the artist, and how did they influence the artist's approach to tattooing?
-The artist considers a tattoo artist, referred to as 'Oreo Street third,' as a mentor and a hero. This mentor helped the artist learn the craft, including soldering needles, but the artist did not complete an apprenticeship to receive a holy name.
What is the significance of the artist's 'holy name' in the context of traditional tattooing?
-In traditional tattooing, a 'holy name' is significant as it represents the completion of an apprenticeship. The artist sought recognition for their holy name from their mentor, indicating their dedication and the importance of tradition to them.
How does the artist approach the design and concept of a tattoo?
-The artist spends a significant amount of time conceptualizing the design and composition of a tattoo. They believe that the art is a sentence that comes before anything else, and they invest time in figuring out the image, flow, and layers to create depth and a three-dimensional effect.
What cultural significance do koi fish, dragons, and phoenixes have in the context of the artist's tattoos?
-Koi fish represent good luck and perseverance, swimming against the current symbolizing hard work and determination. Dragons symbolize unlimited power, with different postures indicating different meanings, such as a dragon climbing up representing success. The phoenix represents rebirth and transformation, similar to the butterfly in American tattoos.
What are the challenges of creating unique tattoos with traditional symbols like dragons?
-Creating unique tattoos with traditional symbols like dragons is challenging because each design needs to be distinct. The artist mentions the difficulty of making 5,000 dragons look different while maintaining the essence of the symbol.
How does the artist address the issue of tattoo taboo in Asia and its association with gangster culture?
-The artist acknowledges the taboo surrounding tattoos in Asia and its association with gangster culture. However, they also note that the meaning behind tattoos, such as a full bag of dragons indicating leadership, can be powerful and significant.
What is the difference between the tattooing process using a machine and the traditional Tapori method?
-The traditional Tapori method is more time-consuming and involves a gap between each stroke, which can make it less painful compared to the continuous motion of a tattoo machine. The artist also mentions that the density of the ink application is higher with machines, which can affect the brightness and saturation of the colors.
How has the artist adapted to legal restrictions regarding the use of bamboo in tattooing in the United States?
-The artist has worked with the health department in California to find a solution that allows for the use of bamboo in tattooing. They have developed a sterilization process that involves high pressure and temperature to ensure safety while maintaining the traditional method.
What is the artist's perspective on the shift from handmade tattoos to machine tattoos in Asia?
-The artist notes that the shift to machine tattoos in Asia has made the process faster but has also led to a loss of the historical value and tradition associated with handmade tattoos. They believe that handmade tattoos have more value and represent a deeper connection to the art form.
Outlines
🌊 Traditional Japanese Tattoo Techniques and Cultural Significance
This paragraph delves into the traditional Japanese tattoo technique known as 'Tabora,' which involves using a bamboo handle to tap ink into the skin. The ink itself is derived from Nara ink, a type of ink with limited color variety, primarily black, red, and gold, each with its own cultural significance. The speaker discusses the blending of traditional tattooing with modern illustrative styles, highlighting the importance of design and concept before the actual tattooing process. The paragraph also touches on the speaker's journey, starting with homemade tattoos using sewing needles and Nara ink, and evolving to learning from various mentors without completing a traditional apprenticeship. The speaker's style is a fusion of traditional techniques and modern school designs, with an emphasis on depth and realism influenced by over 20 years in the United States.
🎨 The Artistry and Symbolism Behind Tattoo Design
The second paragraph focuses on the creative process behind tattoo design, emphasizing the time spent conceptualizing the image, composition, and flow. It discusses the symbolism of various tattoo elements such as koi fish, dragons, tigers, and phoenixes, each representing different virtues like perseverance, power, bravery, and rebirth. The speaker also addresses the cultural taboos surrounding tattoos in Asia and the challenges of making each tattoo unique, especially when dealing with thousands of dragons. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the technical aspects of tattooing, such as the difference in pain between traditional and modern methods, and the speaker's advocacy for the acceptance of traditional bamboo tattoo tools in the United States, which involved a lengthy negotiation with health authorities.
🛠️ The Evolution of Tattoo Tools and Cultural Shifts
In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the transition from traditional handmade tattooing tools to modern machinery in both Asia and the United States. The adoption of machines has led to faster tattooing processes but at the expense of some of the historical value and tradition. The speaker reminisces about starting with tapori tattoos and rotary machines in 1992, eventually moving to coil machines. The paragraph also highlights the importance of practice and skill in traditional tattooing, suggesting that the shift to machines has somewhat diminished the appreciation for the craft's depth and the time required to master it.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Tabora
💡Nara ink
💡Woodblock prints
💡Traditional Japanese tattoo
💡New school
💡Realism
💡Koi fish
💡Dragon
💡Phoenix
💡Tattoo taboo
💡Tapori
Highlights
Tabora is a technique that combines tap (warriors' poke) with the use of a bamboo handle, rooted in traditional Japanese tattooing.
Designs are inspired by woodblock prints, and the color palette is limited, primarily using Nara ink, which is made from smoke.
The scarcity of colors in traditional tattoos is due to the use of natural pigments, with red being a popular choice.
Gold in tattoos signifies a certain level of status, as it is not commonly used.
The artist mixes traditional techniques with new school illustrative designs, creating a unique style.
The artist emphasizes the importance of the line in tattooing, stating that a 'poor line' lasts forever.
After more than 20 years in the U.S., the artist's work has been influenced by realism and illustrative styles.
The artist's early experiences with tattooing involved using sewing needles and Nara ink, a traditional method.
Mentorship played a crucial role in the artist's learning process, with a focus on technique and tool preparation.
The artist's mentor, referred to as a hero, helped significantly in their development and understanding of traditional tattooing.
The artist's style has evolved to include more three-dimensional and layered designs, incorporating realism.
Traditional tattooing is a blend of 60% machine work and 40% traditional methods, maintaining a connection to the past.
Design and concept are paramount in tattooing, with significant time spent on planning the composition and flow.
The artist discusses the symbolism behind koi fish, dragons, tigers, and phoenixes in tattoos, representing various virtues.
In Asia, tattoos carry a taboo and are often associated with criminal or gang affiliations.
The artist describes the difference in color saturation between traditional and modern tattooing techniques.
The pain associated with tattooing is often due to the speed of the machine, with traditional methods having breaks between strokes.
The artist's work on a bamboo handle involved multiple artisans, each contributing to different aspects of the design.
The use of bamboo in tattooing tools is not legal in the U.S. due to health and safety regulations.
The artist has been involved in advocating for the use of traditional tattooing methods in the U.S., leading to regulatory changes.
The shift from traditional hand-tattooing to machine-based methods has led to a loss of historical value in the art form.
The artist reflects on the importance of preserving traditional tattooing techniques despite the prevalence of machines.
Transcripts
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