Osaka Ben - Being the occasionally bilingual journal of a Professional Ex-Pat Tattooist trained and apprenticed in Osaka Japan


FAQ よくある質問

Before sending mail, please read the following FAQ. Your question may already be answered below!
メールを送る前に、以下の「よくある質問」を読んで下さい。あなたに素敵な答えが待っているかもしれませんよ!

  • How do I book an appointment for tattooing?
    Please contact me directly via email to make an appointment for tattooing or call the Chopstick Tattoo Horie shop: +81(06)6534-9595
  • 予約をとったらいいですか?
    予約をしたい人は直接メールで連絡下さい。もしくはChopstickTattoo堀江店のBEN宛に電話下さい: +81(06)6534-9595
  • Do you take artwork commissions?
    Generally I am too busy with tattooing to take commissions, but there are exceptions. I do neither pro-bono nor ‘spec.’ (I.E. I don’t do free album art or flyer designs for poor struggling bands. I had to survive by eating crustified shit off of the rims of hobo’s asses for 3 years until I finally started getting paid for my work. All requests for freebies will be completely ignored.) Send a detailed request via email or the form on this site – Serious inquiries only.
  • Do you do collaborations?
    I really enjoy collaborative painting and illustration with other artists, but time and distance are very limiting factors for this activity. Please send any requests with as much detail as possible and include samples or links to samples of your work.
  • Why aren’t you answering my mail? When will you write me back? Oh, how I pine for you!
    Due to the overwhelming amount of both domestic and international correspondence that I do every day I do not have time to write lengthly detailed responses to everyone. Please be understanding and patient – I assure you that I do read each and every piece of mail I receive – even and especially the viagra ads. Unfortunately, from time to time my spam filter snags legitimate correspondence by accident.
  • Is it true that I can’t go to a Japanese gym/onsen if I have tattoos?
    Here’s some advice regarding Onsen (温泉-hot springs), Sentou (銭湯-public baths) in relation to tattoos. Some have standing policies to refuse admittance to individuals who are tattooed. However, others do not. Generally, most public baths in the inner city which are chains, use recycled water, and whose clientele consist of liver-spotted taxi drivers have these policies – the short answer is, you’re not missing out if you can’t go to the sentou. These policies are less frequent in the much more attractive scenic country-side onsen such as those attached to ryokans (Japanese style inns). True onsen are now required by ordinance to not recycle their water and are generally more enjoyable anyway. The way I see it, you generally have a couple options:
    1. Call and ask. If you don’t speak Japanese, have a friend call. Make sure to explain that you are not Japanese (this typically gives you a ‘get-out-of-cultural-taboos’ card – play it) If they say no, it means no. If they say yes, then you’re set.
    2. Go anyway and ignore the policy. Once you are naked and in the onsen (the more remote the better) it is unlikely anyone will complain nor that the staff will want to make waves with you. Especially if you already have a reservation in advance. Use this approach with caution – it isn’t unheard of to be ejected in the middle of an otherwise pleasant soak.
    3. Family Onsen. Traditionally, onsen are divided into male and female baths, very small children being excepted. However, some families enjoy bathing together in Japan. For this purpose there is sometimes available an option called ‘family onsen.’ When booking your reservation you can omit any talk of tattoos and simply book a one hour slot for yourself and simply bathe alone. This is a good call in case the sentou has an anti-tattoo policy but you want to go anyway.

    Gyms are another story. Generally, as long as you cover your tattoos you will simply have to refrain from using the swimming pool. Be sure to check the policy of any gyms or fitness clubs before you join.

  • How can I get an apprenticeship in Japan?
    This is far too general of a question to answer, but I get it all the time. Start by considering whether or not it is really worth it to do something as difficult as learning a new skill in a foreign country with no support network in a language you don’t fully grasp in a spartan society full of protocol, manners, and customs that you will likely be unfamiliar with. The Japanese tattooing world does not even remotely resemble that of the west. I wrote the manual as I went along.

    The only helpful thing I could say is if you really want to have a go, start hitting the books. Without working Japanese skills, your chances are practically zero.

  • Will you apprentice me?
    No.
  • 彫師見習いは募集中ですか?
    していません。
  • Do you do Piercing? Suspension? Scarification? Henna Tattoos?
    No.
  • ピアス、サスペンション、ヘナ・タトゥー等をしてますか?
    していません。
  • Will you send me some stickers/merch?
    IN JAPAN: No problem, just send a SASE to me at the studio and I’ll get it to you in my free time.
  • OUTSIDE JAPAN: Don’t know of any way to do an ‘international’ SASE… so you gotta send me something in return. Sending even small envelopes internationally from Japan is expensive.

  • ステッカーやパンフレットを送ってくれない?
    往復便だと可能です。
  • Do you have any link banners?
    Here you be!

  • リンクバナーありますか?
    どうぞ、以下のバナーを自由に使ってください。

  • CONTACT:

    Now that you’ve read through the FAQ, feel free to submit any unanswered questions via the following form:

    まだ不明な点があれば以下の問い合わせフォームを使用してください:

    Contact Me
    1. (required)
    2. (valid email required)
    3. PLEASE Double-Check your email address!!!
    4. (required)
     

    cforms contact form by delicious:days

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    About this blog:

    Being the occasionally bilingual journal of a Professional Ex-Pat Tattooist trained and apprenticed in Osaka Japan.