Ryoma Uno, a Japanese American tattoo artist based in Oahu, has a journey that he describes as “weird” and deeply transformative.
As a young boy in Tokyo, Uno was captivated by Western culture—punk rock, heavy metal, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and the tattoos that his idols proudly displayed. When his family moved to Hawaii when he was 13, Uno tried to distance himself from his Japanese roots, embracing his new life in America.
He eventually became a tattoo artist, focusing on Western styles. However, a trip back to Japan at the age of 26 altered his career and life forever.
“I spent my entire life trying to push away who I am,” Uno reflected. “But the one thing I can’t change is the blood that runs within me. I’m Japanese.”
During this trip, Uno found a Japanese tattoo master who introduced him to a new form of art. This encounter led Uno to embrace his heritage fully.
Today, Uno, who goes by the name Tatsutoshi as a tattooist, practices the traditional Japanese tebori technique in Hawaii. Tebori, which means “hand-carved” in Japanese, involves manually pushing ink into the skin using a needle attached to a thin stick.
Many of Uno’s clients have been with him for years, collaborating on designs rich with Japanese folklore and symbolism. These tattoos often cover extensive areas of the body, from arms to torsos to legs. Designing a full back piece or body suit can take weeks or months, while completing the tattoo requires years of commitment.
For clients in Hawaii, this dedication stems from a desire similar to Uno’s: to reconnect with their Asian heritage.
“As a fourth-generation Japanese American, I feel like much of our culture gets lost,” said Kai Tachino, one of Uno’s clients. Tachino started a tattoo of a koi swimming upstream two months ago.
For Tachino, the yearslong process of learning about the meanings behind Japanese designs and having them permanently etched onto his skin is a meaningful way to honor his ancestry.
While tattooing has faced legal and social barriers in East Asian countries like Japan and China, immigrants and their descendants in Hawaii have created a unique and vibrant tattoo culture. This culture is unlike any other in the United States, reflecting the rich heritage and traditions of those who call the islands home.