I'm not sure if I posted this earlier, but its about John Mayer's sleeve. He has some nice artwork done by Horimitsu of the Horitoshi Family. He is located in Tokyo. Irezumi , of a traditional nature in Japan is split up into dividing sections of Japan. No two families work in the same area. It's against tradition, and an encroaching tattoo artist can be seriously dealt with by the yakuza. At the same time, there are very few authentic tebori artists. I came across a black guy with a short sleeve done in a Mac Store by Redonodo Beach this year. However, this was not tebori. Most of the artwork in the United States is not tebori. To the untrained eye, it is very difficult to tell the color apart. I'm not sure why they do not mention that his artists is Horimitsu. Apparently, he took a little Japanese. I'm not sure how he was introduced into their family to get tattooed. Yes, Being a Celebrity is great and all, but this is not some place you just walk into. But the artwork is nice, its a mix of machine and tebori. In the blue peonies you can notice the pretty nature of the blue, and a sharp eye can note the difference in color from a machine. But some of that black is heavy machine shading, I believe. The color's are nice. He didn't really follow a traditional Japanese path and do symmetrical sleeves. Which I guess, as a celebrity and someone who must have paid any amount to get it done, they do not care. By this I mean, his other arm has small tattoo's and stuff. But I guess my arms do too. Well, not for long. I plan to get the entire traditional suit; that's why we set up the artwork the way we did on my leg. I like the idea of covering up your artwork in public; although I find it tediously enforced in Japan, I think here they kind of show off too much. It's also better for the art, to be kept away from the Sun. The literature on the symbolic meaning of artwork- like characters from Suikoden have many spiritual allegorical references. Being of a Hindu background helps greatly. Many of the gods in Japanese literature, are borrowed from the Hindu pantheon; as much of East Asian religion stems from India. These artists recognize this too. But it has a beauty of its own appeal, transfixed by many centuries and years of tradition in their own spirit.





The fellow in the back with the brown long sleeve and slightly auburn hair is the artist who did my work, Horitaka. His sensei or master is in the green jacket , Horitoshi. The white guy sitting next to him on the right produced a film- which is terrible might I add, his name was Mario Barth. Apparently he is a tattoo celebrity millionare or some shit. To be honest, well I wont say it. He's german apparently, well thats his white ancenstory. He seems pretty American or western I suppose. I didn't like his documentary. The guy, I don't know why white people... Enough said- I forgot what his video was called, but I would not buy it. I showed it to people who had no interest or idea about tattooing of an ancient culture and even they were not impressed by this sloth. Poorly scripted, and it really did not give a deep insight into the artwork. Not impressed. As a frequent indie film and foreign film, as well documentary eager viewer- I found his work to be mainly focused on how great he is. Here he was in a foreign country, proclaiming himself, even before giving more insight to these artists who have kept alive a long tradition of tattooing that is the culmination of body art. Something you will notice is that everyone else has sleeves covering their body, except Mario. This is such a western thing, to show off. I'm not sure about the other white guys in the picture, but the other Japanese men all have full blown body suits, but they are covered up. Only Mario is showing off his arms. This proves my point on many levels. I regret having done other artwork prior, but I plan to just cover it up eventually. Artwork , whether it is poetry, writing, speech, painting, music, should be expressed at the highest level, or at least be humble if not. Eastern culture has a different vibratory experience, thats why Indian, Chinese & Japanese cultures have lasted through the ages. But it is from India, that Godhood stems. In Asia, all religious ties and art can be traced back, if you have the proper educational rearing and spiritual insight.