Tokyo Tattoo 1970 provides a rare glimpse into the world of traditional Japanese tattooing in 1970s Tokyo. Now in paperback for the first time, this unique collection of photographs and reflections from photographer Martha Cooper captures the art of Irezumi, its cultural significance and artistry, and the master of the practice at work.

When Martha Cooper first visited Tokyo in 1969, she soon became fascinated by the local art of tattooing and began documenting the work of traditional Japanese tattooist Horibun I.

In the early 1970s, Japanese tattoo was an underground art form. The masters of the traditional techniques worked in small studios, tattoo artists were rare, and the act of receiving a tattoo was taboo, reserved only for the infamous Yakuza. No one could foresee the incredible internationally popularity of tattoo art in the years to come.

Horibun I worked with ancient Japanese methods; different sized bundles of needles bound to sticks which he dipped into colored inks and his motifs were derived from traditional Japanese legends. He allowed Cooper to photograph him at his workshop, meet his customers, show his tattoos and craft in detail, and follow him on a pilgrimage to a holy Shinto shrine.
Tokyo Tattoo 1970 is Martha Cooper's first study of the underground art subculture, which launched her into an ongoing immersion into the graffiti and street art of New York City and beyond.

The hardcover edition of Tokyo Tattoo 1970 (9789185639274) was released in 2012. It has been sold out for years and is considered a collector's item. Now the paperback edition is here, making this unique collection available for a new generation of tattoo fans.

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