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May 21 2018 14 Comments

Japanese women with traditional tattoos

Far from ordinary ladies on a far from ordinary day out.

japanese women with traditional tattoos in tokyo

Categorized: Culture, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda says

    5/21/2018 at 10:22 am

    You can’t just leave that there without telling us more!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/21/2018 at 4:53 pm

      Haha, I suppose it does require a bit of explanation, doesn’t it?

      It was taken at the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa. A festival well-known for its connections to organised crime groups. Now whether these two ladies are involved with the Yakuza in some way I don’t know, but they were hanging about in the same area as one of groups, and they have the tattoos, so…

      Reply
  2. Coli says

    5/21/2018 at 10:45 am

    Wow. I’ve seen these on men any numerous times, but never on any women. Am I to assume they are affiliated with any sort of gumi? Or just like that kind of tattoo art?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/21/2018 at 4:56 pm

      Yes, likewise. Or at least none quite like the tattoos on the woman on the left.

      As for any affiliation, I can’t say for certain, but as I mentioned above in reply to Linda, they were hanging about in an area where there were Yakuza, and they have the markings, so more than likely!

      Reply
      • Coli says

        5/21/2018 at 5:38 pm

        That must’ve taken a lot of courage. We’re they friendly?

        Reply
        • Lee says

          5/21/2018 at 8:44 pm

          I’d like to pretend it did, but nah, not in the slightest. They were friendly enough and not at all shy about showing off their tattoos. So all in all very easy to shoot.

          Reply
  3. Harry says

    5/21/2018 at 6:57 pm

    This is a very cool shot. I didn’t expect this! Awesome tattoos and great expressions too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/21/2018 at 8:48 pm

      Cheers. Something quite a bit different, isn’t it? The expressions were very much an added extra. Glad I got them though, as despite their incredible tattoos, I’m not sure the photo would have worked without those looks.

      Reply
  4. d. minnis says

    5/21/2018 at 9:11 pm

    Once again, right place, right time Lee. I agree with the expressions, much better than a posing smile

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/21/2018 at 9:42 pm

      Thank you. Very pleased to have seen them. And yeah, considering the tattoos and what they are associated with in Japan, their expressions definitely make for a more interesting photograph.

      Reply
  5. cdilla says

    5/22/2018 at 4:55 am

    What a remarkable photograph of some amzing living art.
    I can’t help thinking the lady on the left is saying, “So we have to let this one go too?”

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/23/2018 at 9:56 am

      They are quite something, aren’t they? Not your usual sight in Tokyo to say the least.

      Haha, that’s very good. Perhaps not too far from the truth either!

      Reply
  6. Dale W. Griffith says

    5/22/2018 at 11:14 am

    The ladies, specifically their expressions, do little to enhance the beauty of the art.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/23/2018 at 9:59 am

      Each to their own. Personally I think their expressions add another dimension. They are reflective of their personalities in a very different way from their tattoos.

      Reply

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