Shading in Japanese tattoos

[BigTex]

@BigTex, I feel "Bushido" and "Tattoos of the Floating World" by Taki are always required readings when it comes to Japanese tattoos. Some very cool photos in them with descriptions.

Bushido: Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo:Amazon:Books

Tattoos of the Floating World: Ukiyo-e Motifs in the Japanese Tattoo:Amazon:Books

Hah! I ordered Bushido last week off Amazon, oddly enough. I got the impression it was more of a "good photos of amazing work" book instead of a detailed history/reference guide. Is that truly the case?

[irezumi]

That's not too far off; it has lots of great pics and it does have a good amount of history of the Horiyoshi family and japanese tattoo history and related stuff but not heavy on the this-means-that and other explanations of imagery and motifs.

[Lance]

@BigTex, what @irezumi says. It's got great photos which show the variety of possibilities one can get and nice images describing traditional tattoo types regarding half sleeves, 7/10 sleeves, munewari, donburi, etc that's also in the Perseverance catalogue too, but if my memory serves me right, it doesn't explain stories, or what a dragon may mean or a tiger or whatever. That's where the second book, tattoos of the floating world fits in. If you didn't already know the motifs when browsing Bushido, after browsing the floating world book, you'll have a much better understanding of the images in Bushido.

They're both nice books to have.

[Zillah]

From the store at the Japanese American National Museum. Shipping will no doubt be expensive to New Zealand but the book is only $20 and it's worth much, much more than that. I really recommend it if you have any interest whatsoever in Japanese tattoos.

USD$20 plus USD$31 in postage for slow mail... If you say it's worth it, I'll believe you :)

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First off if you want to look proper then you need to go over onto the chest as well. Which is awesome because that makes the tattoo even tougher.

Does that apply to the ladies?

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"Bushido"

This is the book I originally read about the shading in, I believe.

[Lance]

Does that apply to the Ladies? @Zillah, you'll just have to see the cover of the Perseverance catalogue when you receive it! :-)

Actually for women, in older photographs in my personal experience I've seen women with and without the chest panel. Where as in older photos it's much more common that men have the chest panels. When women have had it done, it's typically been smaller and doesn't extend onto the chest as much. Similarly, back pieces didn't extend as far down the thigh as much as men's designs. I think Horitomo's "Immovable" book delved into this too. I know his seminar at the Bay Area Convention did a few years back.

[Zillah]

Thank you @Lance much appreciated :) Looking forward to furthering my education!

[Zillah]

From the store at the Japanese American National Museum. Shipping will no doubt be expensive to New Zealand but the book is only $20 and it's worth much, much more than that. I really recommend it if you have any interest whatsoever in Japanese tattoos.

It arrived today. It's awesome! Thanks @Graeme and @DJDeepFried for the recommendation!

[DJDeepFried]

Don't miss the vast number of LST butts in there. The exhibition's great too -- but very far from NZ!

[Zillah]

Don't miss the vast number of LST butts in there

I hope they are labelled as such :p

[DJDeepFried]

Nope, you'll just have to search the Perseverance thread for the word "butts."

[suburbanxcore]

I definitely back all the nice things said about the Perseverance book. We actually had to order a second one when my wife took our first copy to Martin Lacasse and gave it to him as part of her tip. Haha. But yeah, it totally rules, as do LST butts.