Women Tattooed by Artists [translation].

[Tokyo]: [?], 1986. First edition. Japanese size octavo. 203, [1] pp. Photographically illustrated with 36 full page photographic illustration of Japanese tattoos on women. At the opening of the book there are 6 full page color illustrations of the same with the first three being of the author. All text in Japanese. Publisher's plain white wrappers with pink endpapers and a glossy photographically illustrated just jacket. A very good copy.This book was written by Hiromi Nakano, wife of Asakusa's first tattoo artist of note; Horiyoshi III (nee Yoshihito Nakano)It tells how she met Mr. Asakusa, how she got a tattoo, and the relationship between tattoos and sexual arousal. That they married seems a given. In late 2020, the Japanese supreme court ruled that tattooing could become legal. Until that point, the practice of tattooing—which had a somewhat scandalous image due to its historic association with the organized crime group called the yakuza—was considered a medical procedure, due to the use of needles. As no tattoo artist had a medical license, the practice was declared illegal. This book, written by the wife of Horiyoshi III (Nakano Yoshihito) was published well before the ban was lifted. It took no small amount of courage to write and publish this as at that time tattoos were still generally reserved for the Yakuza (and presumably their better halves). Quite fascinating. Having spent many years in Japan I never saw a single tattoo but times have changed and they are now as common as in the states. But the tattoos shown herein are of the old school and they tend to be rather terrifying and usually full body.For decades Horiyoshi III became known as the ambassador of Japanese traditional Irezumi tattooing. Befriending people like Mr. Don Ed Hardy in the early 1980ies he made extensive travels to the west showing his skills and artwork, which was always in high demand. Within 40 years of practicing of traditional Japanese irezumi, drawing and painting, he has reached an impressive level in his craft. The Yokohama Tattoo Museum was founded by Horiyoshi III in the year 2000. All items shown are from Horiyoshi III’s personal collection, next to Japanese traditional tattoo equipment from all centuries, many items are original artworks by famous tattooers from around the world, like Ed Hardy, The Leu Family, Mick Tattoo, Luke Atkinson, Hanky Panky, Lal Hardy, George Bone, and many, many more. He is showing a vast tattoo machine collection alongside tattooed shrunken heads and other tattooed skins and skulls. A lot of original art prints and old photos portraying tattoo history are part of the collection.abaa-ny-2022