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Tattoo contest

48 Comments

Judges look at entrants in the King of Tattoo Festival held in Ebisu, Tokyo, recently. Hundreds of tattoo artists attended the three-day event.

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48 Comments
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Boohoo, if these were semi-naked women there wouldn't be the same whining.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The psyche and motivation of tattooists and their clients is obviously not your area of expertise. Also, the fact that body modification has been an important ritual in countless cultures, for countless generations is testament to its validity not it's stupidity. I mean each to their own.. some would rather get a tattoo than participate in some other age old institutions... like getting married, childbirth, working out, joining the army, or going to University. Each one marks us one way or another, talk about deliberately subjecting yourself to pain...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Wow, so many judgmental people in here! Most people that get (good) tattoos don't ever regret them. Yep, one day I'll be old and wrinkly, but by that stage I won't be too worried about having saggy colourful skin as opposed to saggy skin coloured skin. I must say I have been surprised by the lack of Japanese people judging or looking down on me for having tattoos. Seems they are more accepting than you lot for the most part. Why judge others for making different choices than you? What a boring world that would we if we were all the same.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Perhaps pictures like this are best reserved for the weekend editions. I'll have to remember not to visit during my lunch break at work tommorrow. :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I just lost my appetite.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Distasteful.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sick is as sick does.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There would be if the women were as minging as this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Aaargh- there must have been at least a couple of guys at the contest with bodies worth putting tattoos on, surely? I don't need to see big muscles, but one or two actual muscles here or there would be nice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Guy on the right needs a man bra.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Judges look at entrants... On judge's right. Its just wrong.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

left. I dont want to look again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The guy on the right has a mullet. Perfect to go along with his girlie undies.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you do it on a building, it's called graffiti. Scribbling on the body in indelible ink.

A waste of perfectly good skin.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What Cleo said.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No onsen for these guys.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

skinny as all hell. weight gainers, here we come.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

God, They look sooooooooo bad.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This was not what I wanted to wake up to.

The guy craning his neck for a look is good for a laugh though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I first heard of this contest in a novel the tattoo murder case. where the skin of the dead tattoo people were put up on walls. now that would be a picture of the day.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The guy on the left looks like he is about to flop something out for the judges. Horrid thought just before lunch. Other than that, there are some nice tats on show, but there is no need for the guy on the right to have a mullet in this day and age.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

An excuse to show something else.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like tattoo art. A lot of Japanese tattoos are really beautiful. Waste of good skin? In what way?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

i have better tattoos

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm with Cleo all the way. On a recent trip overseas I was gobsmacked by the stupid tattoos I saw. more than a few young me had their girlfriend's names tattooed on their necks... Dumb, very dumb. Given that over time the ink starts to smudge due to the body replacing skin they're gonna look even sillier. Like a Monet impressionist painting. Smudge-O-rama. Still nothing could be worse than the kid with a self inked tattoo I saw in NY. Below the heart in a scroll was, "My Angle" And I kid you not...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sometimes I wonder why Japanese men don't have any developed muscles; it's like people here avoid getting toned. I remember once when I was staying at a dorm for foreign students; I was carrying heavy bags all the way from the supermarket and she told me I should be careful so I wouldn't get bulky muscles in my arms.

She really meant it as helpful advice, too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have a tattoo. It hurt like hell to get it too. Those guys must have gone through a world of hurt. I spent 4 hours getting mine done. How many hours have they done? The next one will take 8 hours. Not looking forward to it at all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not seen anyone that skinny with a tattoo since Schindler's List.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

criminals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The next one will take 8 hours. Not looking forward to it at all.

Don't do it, then.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

cleo,

But I want it and it is not a criminal offense. Dont drag your old fashioned stigmas into the 21st century.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dont drag your old fashioned stigmas into the 21st century.

lol. What's '21st century' about deliberately subjecting yourself to pain in order to mark patterns on your body? Tribal scars go back hundreds of years.

Sorry, but the 'Look at me, I'm macho, I deliberately and needlessly subjected myself to all these hours of pain' just isn't a turn-on.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just out of interest, this reminds me of an army training scenario I did years ago. Stripped off and paraded in front of a committee of senior citizens.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cleo it is your opinion, everybody can do with their body what they want as long as they do not hurt anybody(anything) else.

rgetty not true, depends on the onsen (in the big city this is more a problem than on the countryside)

Back on topic, i like Tattoo'S but seeing a skinny man's ass on monday is not good for my state of mind on monday

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sorry, but the 'Look at me, I'm macho, I deliberately and needlessly subjected myself to all these hours of pain' just isn't a turn-on.

That is because you have only attained the rank of "pussy willow" in terms of many of life's experiences. I have attained the rank of "Macho Tribal Scar Man".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

some would rather get a tattoo than participate in some other age old institutions...

like getting married

wedding ring tattoo

childbirth

stretch mark tattoo

working out

muscle tattoo

joining the army

"property of US army" tattoo

or going to University.

University of Phoenix tattoo

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I was only giving Billy some friendly advice - if it hurts, don't do it.

Wouldn't have thought that warranted all this bashing!

(But Billy, you don't get to have two growed-up children and stay a 'pussy willow', believe me!...)

:-)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There's the public health issue in addition to the aesthetic issue. Get a tatto. Just don't expect me to like it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

(But Billy, you don't get to have two growed-up children and stay a 'pussy willow', believe me!...) :-)

agreed. you have obtained the rank of non tattooed macho mama

0 ( +0 / -0 )

nutsagain,

A tattoo can also be redone. Creating something new over flabby, blurred skin.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yeah, like you'd really want a tattoo at 50... sigh.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sorry, but the 'Look at me, I'm macho, I deliberately and needlessly subjected myself to all these hours of pain' just isn't a turn-on.

Cleo...look at the pic again. They are NOT visible unless the owner wants them to be.

A problem is the women with the belly t's and the "tramp stamps" on their lower back.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Attention Japanese girls, do not get a tattoo! You will reget it later. Many American women got them in the 90s. Most regret it now. They have paid big money to have them removed. Your body is already beautiful in its natural state. You dont need.

One of the things I love about Japanese girls is the natural state of thier bodies. No tattoo, no piercings, no shaving of the ____ ....well you know.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

and how could they go to a gym if they aren't allowed in.. sheesh. Quit calling them nancy boys. Tattoos hurt and that in itself man enough for me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe that put have some of the money they spents on their tatoos on some food and/or a gym membership. They are both built like 14 yera-old girls.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Tats are just dumb... You'll realize the same in about ten years when you're portly, middle aged and the ink starts to blur. The smart ones amongst us would be best advsed to invest heavily in the technology that are going to remove them. Which never really works 100% by the way.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I know a man whose tattoos are disappearing because the ink is eating away his skin. I will admit, he is the only one I know about. This is no urban legend, he will show you the ones on the calves of his legs if you ask. His condition may be a rare side effect but it is something to think about. Personally I do not care for the "art" and I wish it would go away. Tattoes on aging bodies are not a pretty sight. (Just one more deterrant in my opinion.)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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