FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
PRESS CONTACT:  Koji Sakai  213.830.5653   ksakai@janm.org   http://www.facebook.com/JANMTattooShow

PERSEVERANCE – JAPANESE TATTOO TRADITION IN A MODERN WORLD

THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

MARCH 8 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2014

The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) proudly presents PERSEVERANCE –Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World, a photographic exhibition exploring the artistry and master craftsmanship of traditional Japanese tattooing. 

Revered as an art form worldwide for centuries, The Japanese Tattoo has a long and tumultuous history with the country of its origin. Tattooing and tattooed individuals have been persecuted and stigmatized throughout Japan – including prohibitions on public display, work requirements specifying tattoo coverage (or the complete absence of tattoos), even the outlawing of the practice itself.  Many of these bans are still in effect today.  

Despite this negative public pressure and government repression, the Japanese Tattoo tradition has not only persevered, it has thrived.  Now practiced in various forms throughout the world, traditional Japanese Tattooing is internationally renowned for its artistry, lineage, historical symbolism, and skill.  PERSEVERANCE will investigate and showcase the breathtaking artistry of the Japanese Tattoo through the works of over 30 of the world’s leading contemporary tattoo artists. 

The work of seven internationally acclaimed Japanese tattooers will be specially featured via life-sized photographs by artist Kip Fulbeck.  Utilizing the state of the art Phase One camera system, these stunning photographs capture the intricacies and flow of the Japanese Tattoo “body suit” with striking detail and clarity.  Featuring Chris Brand, Horitaka, Horitomo, Miyazo, Shige, Junko Shimada, and Yokohama Horiken.

Also showing Don Ed Hardy, Colin Horisou Baker, Stan Corona, Espi, Chris Garver, Jeff Gogue, Regino Gonzales, Jill Horiyuki Halpin, Tim Hendricks, Horikazu 4, Horikiku, Horitoshi Family Horizakura, Timothy Hoyer, Jakoh, Henning Jorgensen, Brian Kaneko, Robert Klem, Chad Koeplinger, Adrian Lee, L.A. Horitaka, Lil' Tokyo Jiro, Sulu'ape Steve Looney, Chris O'Donnell, Chuey Quintanar, Kahlil Rintye, Stewart Robson, Mike Rubendall, Evan Skrederstu, Small Paul, Luke Stewart, The Grime, Tomo, Dan Wysuph

SPECIAL EXHIBITION FEATURES

The exhibition opening features keynote speakers, book signings, and live tattooing by Chris Brand, Horitaka, Horitomo, Miyazo, Shige, Junko Shimada, and Yokohama Horiken.  Monthly live tattoo demonstrations by L.A. Horitaka, Jakoh, and Lil’ Tokyo Jiro of Onizuka Tattoo to follow.

CATALOG

An accompanying 200-page color catalog featuring essays and works by all participating artists will be published and available for sale

ADDITIONAL DESIGNS

Stickers, tenugui (traditional Japanese handkerchief), posters, and temporary tattoos designed by Chris Brand, Horitaka, Horitomo, Miyazo, Shige, Junko Shimada and Yokohama Horiken will also be available.

ARTIST/CURATOR BIOS

Kip Fulbeck is the author of several books, including Part Asian, 100% Hapa (Chronicle Books, 2006) and Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck (Chronicle Books, 2008).  He has exhibited and performed throughout the U.S. and abroad, including solo exhibitions at the Japanese American National Museum, Invisible NYC Gallery, Space180 Gallery, Ghettogloss Gallery, Asia Society Houston, and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. A professor of Art at UCSB, he has been featured on CNN, MTV, The TODAY Show, and National Public Radio.

Shodai Horitaka (Takahiro Kitamura) is the author of numerous books on tattooing, including Tattooing from Japan to the West (Schiffer Publishing, 2004) and Tattoos of the Floating World: Ukiyo-E Motifs in Japanese Tattoo (KIT Publishers, 2003). He is the owner and founding tattooer at State of Grace Tattoo in San Jose, as well as the co-founder and director of the annual Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts.  Kitamura is renown for his advocacy of Japanese tattooing, and has given lectures and worked as a visiting tattooer worldwide.

FEATURED TATTOOER BIOS

Chris Brand is a southern California native and one of the world’s leading tattooers. He has worked with tattoo legend Jack Rudy at the famed Tattooland in Anaheim for over a decade. He is the co-author of The Ulysses Guide to the LA River (GK Editions, 2008) and an avid muralist as well as consummate artist. He brings a unique perspective to Japanese tattooing and showcases some of the most original work to date, including Chicano/Latino interpretations of traditional Japanese styles.

Horitaka (Takahiro Kitamura)
Please see Artist/Curator bio

Horitomo (Kazuaki Kitamura) has been at the forefront of a new breed of Japanese tattooers for well over a decade.  He co-founded Three Tides Tattoo in Osaka in 1997, and later worked as an apprentice for Horiyoshi III in Yokohama.  He has drawn designs for numerous companies and products, including Sega Game Systems, and is the author of Immovable: Fudo Myo-o Tattoo Design by Horitomo (State of Grace, 2011).  In 2006, he received an artist of extraordinary talent visa from the U.S. State Department to tattoo in the U.S.  Since that time, he has worked at State of Grace Tattoo in San Jose and is now a permanent resident.

Miyazo (Masao Miyazaki) is widely considered one of Japan’s premiere traditional tattooers.  Based in Osaka, a city well known in the world of Japanese tattooing, he is the only heir to the famed Horitsune lineage. Miyazo exemplifies the regional style of bold tattooing and at a young age is considered by many worldwide to be a master tattooer.

Shige (Shigenori Iwasaki) Perhaps more than any other tattooer, Shige embodies the synthesis of traditional Japanese tattoo with contemporary European new school stylistics.  His tattoo work and paintings have been praised worldwide, and his work has been featured in magazines, conventions, museums and galleries.  A monograph of his work, entitledShige, was published in 2009 by State of Grace, with the hardcover edition quickly selling out.  He is based in Yokohama.

Junko Shimada  Originally from Japan, Shimada is a pioneer in Japanese tattooing, receiving a full body suit in the 1980’s (extremely rare for a woman at the time).  She tattoos at Diamond Club Tattoo in San Francisco, and has lectured at museums and conventions nationwide.  She possesses unparalleled inside knowledge of both the Japanese and American tattoo worlds and is recognized as the most important woman in Japanese tattooing.

Yokohama Horiken (Kenji Hori)  Originally from Yokohama, Horiken is a renowned tebori (hand tattoo) specialist, one of only a few residing in the U.S.  His work has been shown internationally, and he has been featured in numerous magazines including a 10-page feature in the prestigious Tattoo Artist Magazine. Also a recipient of the extraordinary talent visa, Horiken is a graduate of Tama Art College.

For more information, press packets, and interview requests, please contact:

Koji Sakai, Program Manager
Japanese American National Museum
213.830.5653 
ksakai@janm.org
janm.org/tattooshow

東日本大震災義援金寄附のご報告  2012/8/31

2012年2月19日～8月9日までのチャリティー商品の売上げ ￥68,353 と2012年ブラジルで行われましたTATTOO WEEK CONVENTIONでのポスター売上げ（2,640レアル換金）￥79,965、合計 ¥148,318 を8月31日、日本赤十字社を通じて寄附しました事をご報告致します。

＊2011年3月31日（3月21日～3月31日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上）￥142,500
＊2011年4月26日（4月1日～4月25日までのチャリティー対象商品、ならびにチャリティーT－シャツ（限定100枚完売）の売上げ全額） ￥634,970
＊2011年5月30日（4月26日～5月30日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上げ）￥71,226
＊2011年8月22日（6月29日～8月19日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上げ）￥40,137
＊2011年8月29日（2011年7月22日〜23日 TATTOO WEEK 2011 -Brazil Convention- にて二日間行いましたWork Shop講師料 2,000レアルを換金）￥79,220　　http://www.tattooweek.com.br/
＊2011年10月24日（9月1日～30日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上）￥71,141
＊2011年10月24日（HOPE TATTOOの売上）￥25000
＊2011年10月24日（Inochi Jewelry企画チャリティーポスターの売上）￥16,000
＊2011年11月21日（2011年10月21～23日 SFO TATTOO CONVENTION 2011で販売致しました、Inochi Jewelry企画チャリティーポスターの売上 $550を換金）￥42,400
＊2011年11月21日（HOPE TATTOOの売上）￥15,000
＊2012年2月6日（2011年10月28日～2012年2月2日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上げ) ￥56,981
＊2012年8月31日（2月19日～8月9日までのチャリティー対象商品の売上げ）￥68,353
＊2012年8月31日（TATTOO WEEK 2012 -Brazil Convention- で販売致しましたチャリティー対象商品の売上 2,640レアルを換金）￥79,965　　http://www.tattooweek.com.br/

2011年3月21日～2012年8月31日までの合計金額 ￥1,342,893

チャリティー商品をご購入下さいました皆様に、心からお礼申し上げます。
これらの義援金は日本赤十字社を通じて被災者の為に使われます。
尚、SHOPコーナー "Yellow Blaze Shop" では引き続きアートプリントを義援金支援チャリティー対象商品として販売を継続致します。