05/08/2026
The Dragon’s Path, or 15 Years of Dedication to Japanese Style: From a Small Engraving to a Full Backpiece
Munich is full of stories, but some are written over the years—right on the skin. A regular client of mine flew in for another session. We are continuing our massive work on his back, where a large, dynamic, and incredibly powerful dragon is coming to life.
But this large-scale project didn’t appear out of nowhere. Our journey started exactly 15 years ago!
Where It All Began: The First Step and an Unconventional Cover-Up
When we first met, the task was classic yet approached with a creative twist: we needed to do a cover-up of an old inscription on his forearm.
Usually, people ask to cover something aggressive or dark, but my client had a unique perspective on aesthetics. He brought in the idea of an antique engraving where a little cat is playing with a fish in a pond.
* We used a dark catfish to softly and perfectly cover the old lettering.
* And we placed the playful cat itself on the shoulder, surrounded by traditional waves and carved maple leaves (momiji).
The Second Sleeve: The Asian Tiger
Time passed, and his love for the visual culture of Japan only grew stronger. A few years later, the client came back for a second sleeve.
His request once again surprised us with its subtle, ironic beauty—he wanted an engraving of a tiger meticulously licking its paw. Thus, a light, stylized Asian tiger surrounded by traditional motifs appeared on his other arm. No excessive aggression—only nobility, calm, and clean lines.
Present Day: The Massive Backpiece and the Magic of Tebori
And now, the logical crown of our long-term collaboration is a grand project—a full backpiece featuring a majestic dragon and maple leaves.
We are executing this entire piece using an authentic mixed technique:
* The outlines are done with modern machines for absolute precision and longevity.
* The shading and coloring are done entirely by hand—using the traditional tebori technique (hand-poking with rods).
Hand-poked tebori gives an entirely unique softness to gradients, a velvety color saturation, and a deep connection to the historical roots of Japanese tattooing. The ink settles differently, the skin heals faster, and the art itself acquires a true, profound depth.
Thank you for a trust that has lasted a decade and a half. This is much more than just a master-client relationship—it is the creation of an entire artistic era on the skin.
📍 Based in Munich.
If you’ve been dreaming of a deep, meaningful project in the Japanese traditional tattooing style, you are welcome to book a consultation. Let’s create your story together.
