Tattoo Traditions of Asia

Lars Krutak has given us a landmark publication, a geographically wide-ranging and historically informed survey of tattooing practices in Asia. In addition to bringing together beautifully a diverse range of sources, he shares insights from two decades of fieldwork and dozens of interviews with indigenous tattooists and tattooed people--all enriched by a stunning collection of historical prints, drawings, objects, and photography.--Sean Mallon, co-author of Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing Tattoo Traditions of Asia took me on an extremely powerful and informative journey into the past and present of tattooing in Asia. Reading it was an eye-opening experience, one that touched my soul.--Kari Barba, tattoo artist and owner of Outer Limits Tattoo, Long Beach, California This is a tremendous feat of research, writing, and decolonization by a renowned scholar of indigenous tattooing. Krutak's personal engagement with the cultures he chronicles--including participation in initiation rites--allowed him intimate access to varied tattoo practices, many of which are slipping away. Written with sensitivity and authority, the book marks a major milestone in tattoo ethnography.--Margot Mifflin, author of Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo and The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman Traditional cultural practices are fast becoming endangered due to cross-pollination and westernization. Tattoo Traditions of Asia is an important resource for both those interested in understanding the foundations of tattooing and those who are committed to reclaiming a practice that has been ignored by dominant societies. This is a book long overdue. Lohe i kani o ka hāhau, o ia nō i ka leo hāwanawana o ke kupuna--listen to the sound of the hāhau, it indeed is the whisper of the ancestors. --Sulu'ape Keone Nunes, traditional Hawaiian tattoo master