Japanese irezumi tattoo sleeve showing dragon and koi motifs in black and red
伝統的刺青 · Traditional Irezumi · San Diego, CA

龍墨Ryūboku Tattoo

Where the Old Masters Speak Through Modern Skin.

Where the tradition of five-year apprenticeship meets living skin.

"A true horishi does not pick up the needle until they have spent five years watching, cleaning, and learning. The art lives in that patience." — Studio Philosophy, Ryūboku Tattoo
彫師 — Our Horishi 師匠の技

Masters of the Form

Portrait of Kenji Watanabe

Kenji Watanabe

Full-Body Suits & Dragons

Kenji trained under a traditional Tokyo horishi for five years before emigrating. He works exclusively in the Japanese style and executes large-scale suits with rare compositional mastery.

@watanabe_horishi

IrezumiFull SuitDragon

22 年 / 22 Years

Portrait of Yuki Tanaka

Yuki Tanaka

Koi, Flowers & Water Elements

Yuki's koi rise from water rendered with painterly immediacy. Her peonies and chrysanthemums are the studio standard. She has completed over 40 full sleeves.

@yuki.irezumi

KoiBotanicalWater

14 年 / 14 Years

Portrait of Daisuke "Dai" Mori

Daisuke "Dai" Mori

Oni, Hannya & Mythological Figures

Dai specializes in the demonic and supernatural—oni with gold clubs, hannya masks weeping cherry blossoms, tengu with impossible wings. His work commands rooms.

@dai_mori_ink

OniMythologicalHannya

11 年 / 11 Years

道 — The Path 予約の流れ

From First Letter to Final Session

A traditional irezumi is not booked the way a flash piece is booked. We move slowly, with intention. Most pieces take months from inquiry to first needle — and years to complete.

  1. Step One

    Inquiry Letter

    問い合わせ · Toiawase

    Write to us — not a form, a letter. Tell us the motif you carry, the placement you imagine, and why now. We read every word before we reply.

  2. Step Two

    Consultation

    相談 · Sōdan

    In-person at the studio. We discuss lineage, traditional symbolism, and which horishi suits your piece. Tea is served. No needles are touched.

  3. Step Three

    Design & Deposit

    下絵 · Shitae

    A $200 commitment secures your spot in the calendar. Your shitae — the master sketch — is drawn over six to ten weeks, never rushed.

  4. Step Four

    The Sessions

    彫り · Hori

    Outlines first across one or two sittings, then colour and shading in three- to five-hour blocks spaced weeks apart. A back piece may take a year. A full suit, several.

  5. Step Five

    Healing & Honour

    癒し · Iyashi

    Aftercare is the apprentice's lesson and the client's discipline. When the work is fully settled, we photograph it for the studio archive — with your permission.

アフターケア — Aftercare 作品を守る

Honoring the Work

Each healing session is as important as the session itself. Irezumi demands respect at every stage.

Traditional wrap protocol

Large Japanese pieces use medical-grade wrapping. Your artist will instruct you on timing—follow their specific guidance as sessions vary.

Cold rinse, gentle cleanse

Japanese tattooing often produces more plasma. Rinse with cold water first, then cleanse with unscented antibacterial soap.

Minimal moisturizer

Less is more. A thin film of Aquaphor or Hustle Butter once or twice daily. Over-moisturizing causes ink to surface.

No tight clothing over fresh work

Back pieces and sleeves need to breathe. Loose cotton only for the first two weeks.

Expect long heal cycles for large work

Full sleeves and back pieces can take 3–6 months of sessions. Treat each session as fresh healing. Cumulative care is critical.

Protect your investment

Japanese work is a lifelong commitment. SPF 50+ on all exposed work when healed. The colors and blacks deepen beautifully when cared for.

予約 — Begin 旅を始める

Request a Consultation

Irezumi is a conversation between artist and skin that can last years. Before we begin, we speak. Describe your vision below and your horishi will respond within 72 hours.

A $200 deposit reserves your consultation and is applied toward your first session.

Shop Minimum$250
Hourly Rate$250/hr
Booking Deposit$200
Full SuitsCustom quote
よくある質問 — FAQ

Questions & Answers

What is the cost of a Japanese sleeve?

Full sleeves typically run $3,000–$8,000+ depending on detail and number of sessions. We provide a custom quote at consultation.

How long does a full suit take?

A traditional full body suit is a multi-year commitment averaging 100–200 hours. Most clients see us monthly or bi-monthly.

Do you do small Japanese-style pieces?

Yes. We do standalone pieces—single koi, hannya masks, chrysanthemums. Minimum $250, and we design for eventual expansion if desired.

What is your age requirement?

18+ with valid government-issued photo ID. No exceptions.

Can I bring my own design?

We accept reference imagery but all compositions are original. True irezumi requires custom placement to work with the body's contours.

Do you do color or black and grey only?

Both. Traditional Japanese work uses strong color (red, blue, green, yellow). We also execute stunning black-and-grey irezumi. Discuss preference at consultation.

場所 — Location

Find the Studio

3101 University Ave

San Diego, CA 92104

Directions
営業時間 — Hours
Monday 定休日
Tuesday 定休日
Wednesday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Thursday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Instagram

Follow the Journey