Komiyama & sabukaru Present: The Japanese Tattoo

Komiyama & sabukaru Present: The Japanese Tattoo

'The Japanese Tattoo' is an exhibition that explores the history and culture of traditional Japanese tattooing (wabori) through photography, archival materials, and traditional artworks, centered on three pivotal figures who have shaped Japan's tattoo culture.

The exhibition focuses on Horihide [@kazuo_oguri_], one of the most influential figures in spreading Japanese tattooing worldwide; Asakusa Horikazu [@asakusahorikazu], who embodies the exceptional craftsmanship, dedication, and underground ethos of wabori; and Horicho II [@asakusa_horicho2], who carries forward the traditions of iki (stylish sophistication), artisan pride, and the prestigious Horicho lineage.

Curated by cultural researcher and journalist Manami "Maki" Okazaki [@manami.tokyo], who has spent decades documenting and studying Japanese subcultures, the exhibition draws on her deep, long-standing relationships within the community and her extensive personal archives to present a multifaceted view of Japanese tattoo culture.

Beyond displaying artworks, this exhibition offers an immersive experience into the profound depths of Japanese tattooing—its technical mastery, rituals, community bonds, and historical layers—through photographs, rare documents, traditional pieces, and personal connections with the artists. While Japanese tattoos are globally recognized, their cultural significance remains widely misunderstood. This exhibition serves as a new gateway to understanding this complex and rich tradition.

The exhibition will be held from July 4 (Sat) to July 20 (Mon), 2026, at KOMIYAMA TOKYO G. A series of special programs will take place during the exhibition period, including live wabori tattooing by Horicho II and a talk event featuring Horihide and Manami Okazaki.

For the latest updates and detailed information about the events, please visit sabukaru's official Instagram [@sabukaru.online].

Venue: KOMIYAMA TOKYO G

2-30-4 Kanda Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan

gallery@book-komiyama.co.jp

03 6811 7355

Komiyama & sabukaru Present: The Japanese Tattoo

The Japanese Tattoo brings together photography, archival material, and traditional artworks around three major forces in Japanese tattoo culture:

Horihide [@kazuo_oguri_], the most historically influential figure in the globalization of Japanese tattooing, Asakusa Horikazu [@asakusahorikazu], representing the artisanal skill, intensity, and underworld language of wabori, and Horicho II [@asakusa_horicho2], representing iki, working-class pride, and a prestigious tattoo lineage.

At the center of the curation is cultural researcher and journalist Manami “Maki” Okazaki [@manami.tokyo], whose decades-long work has documented Japanese subcultures with rare depth and sensitivity. Curated through her perspective.

The Japanese Tattoo offers a unique entry point into Japan’s tattoo culture, bringing together personal relationships, archival material, photography, and traditional works that reveal the craft, ritual, community, and complexity behind one of Japan’s most misunderstood visual languages.

The exhibition will run from July 4 to July 20 at KOMIYAMA TOKYO G, with a program of events taking place throughout the exhibition period, including live wabori tattooing and a talk session with Horihide.

For more information and updates on the exhibition program, please visit @sabukaru.online.