Bakeneko Tattoo
The Rites of Passage Festival is now only three weeks away. In addition to the three tattoos I plan on getting from the Tattoos For Wishes booth, I’ll be crossing another item off my list of 100 Things to do Before I Die.
#23 Get a traditional Japanese tattoo (Tebori).
If you’re not familiar with the word tebori, it refers to the process of hand-poked tattoos. It is a traditional form of Japanese tattooing that has been around for well over 300 years. Read more about tebori here.
I want to experience getting a hand poked tattoo, not just because it’s on my bucket list, but, because it is an ancient method of body modification. There was no electricity or tattoo machines back then. People developed these set of tools to tattoo designs on the skin of others. I can get tattooed with a tattoo machine any day, this is something that will create a new set of life experiences.
I’ve just booked in to get a Bakeneko tattoo from Hori Shin. I’ve always found cats to be slightly evil creatures. My cat, Mitch (who has since passed) was unlike any cat I had ever come in contact with. He had a unique personality which, now that I’ve researched Japanese folklore, makes me question what was going on inside his mind.
You can read more about the Bakeneko here.
If you’re interested in getting a tebori piece at Rites of Passage contact Crystal: info@gominekobooks.com
If you can’t make it to Rites of Passage, Hori Shin and two other Japanese artists have a guest spot at TAMA Tattoo, also in Melbourne.
Good luck. This is something that I want to experience myself. I heard it’s pretty painful. Let us know what the experience is like!
From what I’ve been told it’s no more painful than getting one with an electric tattoo machine. I’ve been known to almost fall asleep when I get tattooed so I’m probably not the best person to gauge pain.
Oh really. That’s awesome! I can take the pain of a regular tattoo… Probably because the outcome is permanent and it’s worth it. But once you have a few you know what to expect so it’s no big deal.
Check out my new post — http://modernmedusa.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/2-down-98-to-go/
All about my experience of getting a hand poked tattoo.