Tag: Japanese Tattooing

2024, the 6th Seaside Tattoo Show

When much of California experiences heat waves in July, visiting the Ventura County Fairgrounds, which has a microclimate with temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celcius), is excellent. We can breathe and enjoy a three-day convention there. The organizer, Christina Diaz (who also manages Evolved Tattoos and Fine Art) and her key sponsors Working Class […]

Interview with Joe Truck, a Veteran New York Rocker and Tattooer

Joe Truck, born in 1961 in Manhattan, New York, has over forty years of expertise as a musician and over thirty years as a tattooist. His father, film producer Charles D. Kasher, was connected to 1960s films starring Michael Caine, and his mother, Lodi Carr, was a jazz singer. His background was far from glamorous, […]

Shane Tan’s Complete Collection, From Paintings to Japanese Tattoos

Shane Tan, known for his triumph in Japanese-style tattooing, spent seven years developing his self-titled book. Tan’s passion for woodblock print masters is evident in the 448 pages of hand-drawn line drawings, paintings, and tattooing of characters ranging from Tenjiku Tokubei to Nango Rikimaru. Although woodblock imagery has a long history, it flourished as a […]

Dino: From Soccer Professional to Tattooist in Los Angeles

It is no surprise that Dino is so successful at the Los Angeles-based tattoo studio 10KF Hollywood since his large-scale, modernized Asian art style appeals greatly to American clients. Hannya masks, snakes, and flowers reappear on the arms, legs, and backs using red and black inks. His favorite theme is dragons, as he states, “the scales drive me crazy […]

State of Grace Tattoo Studio’s Twentieth Anniversary

We interviewed tattoo legend Takahiro “Taki” Kitamura; we are now in San Jose, California, for his studio’s 20th-anniversary celebration. In addition to permanent and guest artists tattooing in the shop, there is street art, a panel discussion, an art display, and much more. State of Grace studio collaborated with Empire Seven Studios, the Japanese American […]

Taki: One of America’s Finest Japanese Tattoo Artists

Takahiro “Taki” Kitamura was born in Tokyo in 1973 and moved to the United States with his parents when he was two. His father taught for 18 years at the University of California, Davis (UCD), and his mother instilled Japanese culture in her children, from cuisine to folktales, to preserve their history. Kitamura got his […]

2022 Capitol City Classic Tattoo Convention

The tattoo industry has seen a significant change in recent years, with renowned conventions closing their doors for good, studios closing, tattooists relocating, and new events emerging, such as the Capitol City Classic Convention. This massive and high-quality event was hosted by Royal Peacock Tattoo Parlor in Sacramento, California; organizer Britton Mcfetridge worked hard with his […]