Thoughts

WordPress article from davetedder.com: "Irezumi vs. Western Tattooing: What Makes Japanese Tattoos Different" (https://davetedder.com/irezumi-vs-western-tattooing/) Japanese Irezumi and Western tattooing are fundamentally different approaches to the same medium. The difference isn't just subject matter (dragons vs. anchors). It's how the work is designed, how it relates to the body, and what holds the composition together. The Body as a Canvas: In most Western tattooing, each tattoo is an independent piece. Over time, you might fill in gaps, but the overall effect is a collection of individual images. Japanese Irezumi starts from the opposite end. The body is treated as a single surface, and the composition is designed to flow across it as one unified piece. A sleeve isn't five separate tattoos arranged on an arm. It's one composition that wraps the entire limb. Even a half sleeve is designed with the full arm in mind. Background and Negative Space: This is where the traditions diverge most clearly. Western tattooing traditionally doesn't use background. A rose sits on skin. In Japanese work, background is mandatory for large-scale compositions. It's called Mikiri, the system of background elements that fills the space between subjects and connects everything visually. Waves, wind bars, clouds, rocks, waterfalls, and smoke. These aren't decorative filler. They create depth, movement, and atmosphere. I spend as much time planning and executing background as I do on the main subjects. It's not an afterthought. It's half the work. Subject Matter: American Traditional pulls from Western folk imagery, military culture, and maritime life. Japanese Irezumi pulls from Edo-period woodblock prints, Buddhist and Shinto mythology, classical literature, and nature. I draw directly from the woodblock print masters: Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi, Kunisada. Technical Approach: Both styles share a commitment to bold outlines and saturated color. American Traditional uses a limited color palette: red, green, yellow, blue, black. Shapes are flat and graphic. Japanese work uses a wider color range. Color gradients are more common. Shading follows the form of the body. Both styles are built on the same principle (bold lines, strong color, longevity), but they apply that principle differently. I keep the two traditions separate. I wouldn't put American Traditional lettering inside a Japanese sleeve. Many clients have both styles on different parts of their body.