Tokyo Tattoo 1970

For tattooers and collectors who value real history as reference, Tokyo Tattoo 1970 is a rare document of traditional Japanese tattooing—captured up close before it was visible to the wider world.

In 1970, photographer Martha Cooper arrived in Tokyo and became captivated by irezumi. She was welcomed into the secluded studio of Horibun I, who allowed her to photograph the process, the atmosphere, and the people—at a time when tattooing was still largely hidden and highly private.

Horibun worked with tebori, the hand-poked method using sticks bound with needles and dipped into colored inks. Cooper’s photographs show the craft in motion: the artist at work, clients displaying finished pieces, and scenes that place tattooing inside everyday life and ritual—including a pilgrimage to a Shinto shrine.

This book is especially useful if you want to:

• Study authentic process (tebori technique, setup, and studio context)
• See how classic motifs and storytelling read on the body
• Add a compact, high-signal piece of tattoo history to your reference shelf

It also marks an early chapter in Martha Cooper’s long career documenting subcultures—work that would later connect to New York’s graffiti and street art scenes.

Book details

• Title: Tokyo Tattoo 1970
• Binding: Softcover
• Language: English
• Pages: 72
• Size: 170 × 280 mm (6.69 × 11.02 in)