Originally from Chiba, Japan, Yutaro has come a long way before returning to the culture of horimono - Japanese figurative tattooing. Initially trained in the US alongside tattoo artist Grime - an experience from which he brings back his tattoo warrior alias 'Warriorism' - Yutaro has been officiating in Europe since 2016. In London, he opened the Red Point Tattoo studio with his wife Claudia de Sabe - also a tattoo artist -. There he ethically focuses on a classic and timeless interpretation of the style.
You started tattooing professionally in the US. How important was this experience in your life?
Yes, that’s correct, I did my first professional tattooing in California in 1997. I did my first tattoo in Japan in late 1995. It was so different and advanced in California compared to what I’d seen in japan at the time. It was very important to learn how people in America make tattoos and how they got tattoos also. They have so much more freedom in mentality surrounding tattooing. Coming from a super conservative country, it was like a breath of fresh air.
Were you already doing Japanese style?
I was making more like biker style tattoos (black and grey skulls and such) and walk in tattoos (tribal arm bands and lower back flower designs and such) but I guess me, looking Asian, customers started to ask to get Japanese styles. Then I had to start studying about traditional designs because I felt so embarrassed that when customers asked me some questions and I didn’t know the answers to them.
What contacts did you have with tattooing in Japan before you went abroad?
I didn’t have much exposure to tattooing in Japan. I first saw some when I started hanging around with tattoo artists, but before that I’d seen almost nothing around the town. I’d only seen Japanese traditional tattoos on TV shows, which weren’t real tattoos. They were painted on actors and such. It was almost treated like some kind of mythological thing, that we wouldn’t see in real life growing up.
What attracted you to tattooing then?
I think it was mostly music. A lot of musicians I liked back in the day had some and I thought it was different, cool and there was something hard core about it. It attracted me, this idea that people around me will never be able to get anything like that.
Have you always drawn?
No I haven’t. I’ve always liked to draw on and off, but I had other interests. Which were playing music in a band and fighting. I was also in the Japanese military service for two years.
Today your style tends towards a certain classicism. How did you make this progression from a custom tattoo inspired by American culture with flashy colours to classic Japanese culture?
When I started to get older, I started to think of my customers getting older, wearing my tattoos. I started wanting to see the tattoos on my customers, ones that they can be proud of when they are 60-80 years old. Then I couldn’t picture them been happy with custom pieces I was making at the time. It needed to be something more classic. During the thought process, I was lucky to visit Japan and stay there for few months and spend some time with Japanese tattooers Ichibay and Mitomo Hirohiro. They taught me the importance and power of classical timeless designs.
Which Japanese artists in particular do you find inspiration in?
I have many: Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitsuya, Ito Jakuchu, Kanō Hogai, Rosetsu, Shohaku, etc. For tattooing : Horitoshi 1, Akilla Horiyamato, Horizakura, Horimitsu, Horiuno I, Horiuno II, Horigorō, Horiyoshi II, Horitsune II, Horitsune III, Horishige, Horikyo, Horimomo, Bunshin Horitoshi and etc.
Do you prefer small pieces or body-suits?
Body suit all day every day, please.
Your paintings are beautiful. How important is this work in your artistic practice?
Thank you very much. It is very important to explore ideas, compositions and others aspects of designs. When I sit down and have some open moments, new ideas will come and I try to get it on paper.
How does the painting help to improve your tattoo?
Mostly understanding compositions and structures in designs. Also sometime learn about efficiency too.
In an interview with the Italian tattoo artist Crez, you referred to the 18th century Japanese painter Jakuchu Ito's work by saying that he painted in an "unconditional love state". To that, you added "Painting in universal states of unconditional love is my ultimate goal". What did you mean by this?
Unconditional love has no agendas. The force moves the nature. I think that it’s the most unfiltered energy we can experience on the planet. I feel that Jakuchu’s work transcends agendas and conditions in my opinion. I like this flow state when I paint. I’m not thinking of what people are gonna think of the painting, how much money I’m gonna make of this, how many likes and comments and etc. JUST creating and it creates itself. When galaxy creates stars, I’m imagining there will be no agendas, that kind of pure creation happens, the picture has nature quality. And it makes me feel happy and calm to see them. It doesn’t happen very often.
You now live in London, having travelled to many places in the world outside Japan. How do you see the tattoo culture in Japan today?
It’s hard to say now that I haven’t been there for about three-four years. It’s always changing it feels. I’m imagining it’s still behind and less free. I see so many judgements on internet. People genuinely don’t like them. Feels like they have hard time breaking through to newer ideas.
What is the state of professionalization of the field? For several years now, tattoo artists' associations have been trying to have a sanitary framework adopted for the profession in Japan, haven't they?
You know, I have no idea about this. I only know that artists won the trials. But yes, it would be great to organise some healthy framework there and regulate the industry.
Your name, Warriorism, is linked to your history with martial arts. Can you tell us a bit about this experience and your state of mind? How would you characterise the ‘warrior spirit’?
It came from my mentor, the American tattoo artist Grime and my friend Civ. They had the thing called ‘tattoo warrior’ (warrior for tattooing) who dedicates their life to tattooing and mentally fight against non serious tattooing people. When I started working with Grime, he taught me that we have to be tattoo warriors and it gave me a lot of courage to keep going. We talk about our mindset as “warriorism” and when instagram came out, I choose that as the screen name and it has been since. I have practice martial arts and been in military but I am not a real warrior, but I really wish to be one! So warriorism is an ethos in my heart, which always pushing towards to become a warrior.
Is tattooing so difficult that it is comparable to a fight?
I find that fighting is more difficult. But maybe because I’ve been tattooing for a long time and it has became second nature. But, for sure in both crafts, there is infinite amount of things to pay attention too. I will be never bored thinking of either things. + IG : @warriorism Red Point Tattoo 9 Penton Street N1 9PT Londres Tel : (0207) 689 2460 Redpointtattoo.com
