In this print from Heroes of the Suikoden, Yoshitoshi presents Kyumonryu receiving his namesake tattoos. With all outlines and one sleeve complete, the tebori master begins to shade the hero’s shoulders. With his right index finger extended along the bamboo of the hari, the tattoo artist holds the skin taught and the sumi brush with the left hand. Depicting the prepared ink and different hari on the floor next to the artist, Yoshitoshi reveals the tools and practice of tebori during the Edo ...
