Hiroshi Kawai 

Japanese Tattoo Artist Unplugged

Hiroshi Kawai is a well known Japanese tattoo artist. He has travelled extensively throughout Europe and South America as an importer. In 1990 he eventually decided to take up tattooing as a result of seeing tattoos from around the world from his many business trips. In this interview Hiroshi gives us an insight into the life of a Japanese tattoo artist.

What made you decide to become a tattoo artist?

Well....it is so difficult question to explain. I became to a tattoo artist as a natural progression. I liked to drawing since childhood. I came to be much more interested in tattooing when I travelled throughout Europe and South America as an importer of natural resources in 1990. I decide to be a tattoo artist after much business traveling because I felt so tired from traveling around the world. I just wanted to stay in Japan for a while. Although now I am missing traveling so much. Life is funny...

How has your work developed over the years?

I can't really say anything because I am never satisfied. I just try to do my best for each individual.
 
What is your favorite style of tattoo?

Japanese legends, old story , dragons and Japanese Nou stage picture.

Tell me your most unusual / interesting tattoo story!

Well...one day I had two customers. One was a day time appointment another was a night time appointment. Both men had never met and didn't know each other but they request me the very same design that was angel and name of a son. One father wanted this particular angel because he was overjoyed with the birth of his son. The other father wanted an angel because  he was deeply saddened by the death of his son in a car accident. Both fathers came to get tattoo with the same reason. They both loved their sons so much. But their motivations were completely different. I will never forget that day and what I felt. I still don't understand the reason why they came in the same day. Only God knows the answer...

As a tattoo artist what do you focus on technically or characteristically?

Well....I am not sure about characteristics. Technically I focus on the outline. I try to keep in mind how sharply or articulately I can show the lines, straight lines and curving lines.

I would say that your characteristic style is very distinctive and attractive.

I can say that tattoos in themselves are attractive. People say that my style is interesting because it is a mixture of Japanese and Western style.

You seem to successfully take several elements from different styles into your technique and not just focus on a particularly Japanese style.

I am satisfied with Japanese tattoo techniques, but I feel I need something more. Then I try to incorporate Western techniques to fill in the gaps. I don't mean to be the one who carries traditional tattoo to next
generation.

So you try to portray a global standard?

No, it is different. For example, when people see my technique, I want them to realize they are made by Japanese, not American, nor Chinese either. My style has to be based on Japanese style. Even it has a lot of
Western taste, people know that this is made by Japanese. This is what I attempt to be as an artist.

I guess that is your unique way of expressing Japanese style of tattoos?

Yes. This is not only for the tattoo industry. Current Japanese arts and cultures are already different from traditional Japanese style. Of course it is much different from Western style as well. Japanese culture is always changing by current artists and as a result they become a Japanese standard.

I hear you are strongly opposed to the copycat overseas tattooing styles you see in Asia?

Yeah, When I visited Korea, I saw a lot of small trucks running around there so similar to Japanese trucks.
Some people are happy with making money selling copycat trucks and don't seem to care about being original. But I as an artist cannot be like that.

You are also known for occasionally changing an original drafted design depending on the persons body type or even the atmosphere at the time?

Yes. I try to retain the nuance of images, but completed design would be quite different from their original draft.
This is not what I neglect customers hopes or requirements. I first understand where the points in the draft designs are and what they want.Then I just arrange them to be more attractive.

Is that because you don't like to copy another tattoo artists style or you try to be authentic and express what you feel as an artist each time?

Umm, you could say that. Really I just know what is best is for my customers. Certain tattoos may not suit one person but suit another. It is all depends on atmosphere and body type.

So basically you don't just follow the customers requirements but think about what the best for them?

I make cover-ups for customers who had tattoos done in other shops and I don't want my customers to come back for cover-ups. My customers believe me and come here. I don't want to let them down.

Tell me how do you go through the process of drafting an original design?

I ask customers requirements and hopes in the beginning of tattoo work and draw the draft within hour. I don't usually set up another date for only design meeting. Show them my draft and I modify until they are satisfied with. So I have to make good stuff which can catch their hearts. There is no second chances in this game. Everyday I dedicate efforts to complete my technique. I also draw the draft on body directly if tattoo is large.

Is it common for Japanese tattoo artists to set up another day for a design meeting?

I heard about others. I've thought my style was ordinary. I never thought about another day for design meetings. I've been doing this more than a decade.

When I look at your style it appears Japanese in a traditional way...

That is true. In the nature of things, inexperienced tattoo artists just ask "What you want to get?"...the customer tells them and then the tattoo artist tells them to "lie face down." Traditional artists do fine jobs with only few words exchaged. I started my job before the current tattoo boom. So I just followed the old style.

So you have many happy customers?

Yes, my regular customers like my style. But first time customers sometimes get upset when I tell them I won't have a meeting on a different day on the phone. They think that I scamp my work.

Is it common to have design meetings in Japanese tattoo shops?

Yes it is. But think about this way...it is impossible for inexperienced artists to make a draft an hour before thetattoo procedure starts. I also don't want to have any distance between the design meeting and the start of the tattooing operation. I want to face to my customer and discuss deeply at the same day of operation. Some artists who needs pre meeting at different day have no conscious to use someone's design and glue the print on customer's body. As like coloring.They have no skills at all. I just want people to think about it and  choose the artist because tattoo remains in life time long.

What kind of style do you think you will focus on in the future?

All in all, I want to brush up my technique for traditional Japanese tattoos.

Why Japanese style?

Because I am Japanese and I want to create authentic Japanese tattoos not cheap imitations. For example some Japanese rappers just copy American hip hop. But they are limited to in small audiences. Because there are big differences from the real American hip hop lifestyle.

I can see you strive to be authentic or real...

Yes. I have been trying several styles and I found out my real one is Japanese style. Furthermore I want people to recognize my style and others recognise it. So as a result I want to build my Japanese style.

Is this the reason you work with free hand style?

Yes. I am not sure how popular Japanese style is. But the Japanese technique is really awesome. If you leave aside the flash all around the world, it is difficult to make Japanese taste.

How long did you take to master it?

It took me 7 years to develop my technique and before I could work with total confidence.

Right. So following a customer's requirements is standard practice but you also try to expand the customers experience on how the tattoo itself could morph and change to suit them?

Everybody has own characteristic. I want to make a tattoo to expand their appeal. Beyond their imaginations.
I really feel happy when I see the customer is satisfied with my tattoo.

You are quoted as saying that you wanted to be a big part in the current trend in tattoos?

I just can feel it during my tattoo work. Everyday I receive the draft designs from customers. So I can catch their trend, besides making originalities. As for originalities, It is coming up naturally when I think about customers tattoo.

So really you are part of the trend by keeping your draft work current and not copying flash?

Of course, work made me who I am now. Adding my taste into customer's draft. For example "I'd rather draw dragon like this." And make them satisfied. All pieces making my style.

So customers come to you because they want your particular style of tattoo?

Yes that is mainly the reason people come to me. But don't get me wrong. I don't mean to say flash is wrong. It might be good for some of style. I just don't like it. If they don't like me, they can go to another shop!

What are you brushing up on at the moment?

I have been taking several styles such as Japanese, Western, Tribal. It is too wide for me anymore. I am thinking I will take and brush up my strong styles.

I am have been charting your progress for some time but would like to exactly how you are going to improve on your current style?

I am trying to enhance the precision of my work. I worked widely so I have several techniques what I need. Certain experiences I needed to have to develop as well as not being able to avoid them.

Do you compare the Japanese style of tattoos to the Western way?

Since I am Japanese, the answer is yes. But I start feeling the Western taste coming up when I pursue the  accuracies of Japanese style. So I think I can offer the design which is 60% of Japanese and 40% of Western style, 70% of Japanese and 30% of Western style or more than that.

Sounds difficult to do that. The work must has many elements from both of styles...

First of all, people has to know my works and feel my styles, attractions. So I dedicate to create to each works to be able to show in the world. This is sure thing. I tattoo artist never has second chance.

What about raising your profile worldwide by working or attending conventions overseas?

If I join events or conventions overseas and show my work, I promise you I will bring exotic fine works like that no one never seen. Nobody says "Huh, I know this kind stuff. It is the in shop at the corner over there!"

Hey Hiroshi thank you for taking the time to answer the questions. I really look forward to meeting you when I am in Japan. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

You are always welcome to come to my place and make sure you bring lots of currency ;-)

Hiroshi Kawai is located at:

Tattoo Art Maruyama
1-25-12, Dearheim 203,
Nakamachi, Meguro-ku,
Tokyo, Japan
(Tel / Fax) 81-3-3715-5868

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