Meeting  Sensei: A Journey That Came Full Circle

Journal Entry No. 3

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Life has a remarkable way of bringing us back to the moments that first inspired us.

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When I was seventeen years old, I opened a magazine and discovered the work of Horiyoshi III. At the time, I never imagined that years later I would travel to Yokohama, Japan, become one of his collectors, and receive the artist name Horiyume from the very person whose work first changed the direction of my life.

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That journey didn't happen overnight.

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It took decades of dedication, study, sacrifice, and a commitment to continually improving both as an artist and as a student of Japanese Irezumi.

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Meeting  Sensei wasn't simply about receiving a tattoo.

It was about experiencing a tradition that has been preserved through generations. Lying on the Floor allowed me to better understand the patience, trust, and commitment required to create large-scale Japanese tattooing.

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It also reminded me that no matter how many years you've been tattooing, there is always something new to learn.

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Receiving the name Horiyume was one of the greatest honors of my career.

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To me, it represents responsibility more than recognition.

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It reminds me that every tattoo I create should reflect the respect I have for Japanese culture, the traditions that shaped this art form, and the collectors who place their trust in my hands.

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I continue to travel, study, draw, and learn because I believe mastery is not a destination.

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It is a lifelong practice.

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Every project is another opportunity to grow.

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Every collector becomes part of that journey.

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Looking back, I realize the seventeen-year-old who first opened that magazine could never have imagined where this path would lead.

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For that, I am deeply grateful.

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— Horiyume

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Authentic Japanese Irezumi, preserving tradition, honoring culture, creating legacy.