Started in 2005, the King of Tattoo convention is held every year in the busy district of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Organized the members of the famous Tokyo Hardcore Tattoo studio and held during 2 days, the 2022 edition was a heart warming and lively event.
With 12 tattoo artists over the week-end, this convention was a great opportunity to see that Japan’s tattoo scene has a lot of diverse styles: the famous Shige (Yellow Blaze Tattoo) – who won the best overall prize – the crazy and colorful Sabado, the realistic pieces from Holy Tomo, the traditional Horiken (Wabori) and Ichibay, the graphic shapes of Tomas Tomas108 and YU@11 go shits, and the blend between traditional Japanese and modern by Culpin, Horikozuru and Ryoji.
While looking at the tattoo artists and meeting friends – the tattoo scene is a small world here too, it seems – the attendees were able to enjoy the tattoo contests and a few other animations: traditional Japanese drums (Taiko of Hirozumi), the burlesque dance of Aya Mermaid, a live body painting by Nobu Isobe, and even have their picture taken and printed by the photographer Shigeo Kikichi, and as usual the lively Nenpi-san’s Tattoo Lovers group (Irezumi Aikokai) that we already covered in Inkers.
Instagram links
More than ever, Japan's tattoo scene is very much alive, with more and more diversity. We are very much looking forward to the next one, where hopefully international guests will be able to come. Report by Fabien Le Guillarm Horiken: @horiken_shibuya Shige: @shige_yellowblaze Sabado: @sabado_sabayama Holy Tomo: @holytomo Ichibay: @hide_ichibay Tomas Tomas108: @tomastomas108 YU@11 go shits: @11_go_shits Culpin: @culpin Horikozuru: @koztattoo Ryoji: @hyperdragontattoo.ryoji En: @en_ddtw Nobu Isobe: @nobuisobe666 King Of Tattoo: @king_of_tattoo_japan Kentaro Fujisaki: @kentaro_fujisaki Irezumi Aikokai: @irezumiaikokai.official Aya Mermaid: @aya.mermaid.yumiko Hirozumi: @hirozumi Shigeo Kikichi: @shigeokikuchi