These photographs are from the personal collection of the Japanese writer Akimitsu Takagi. Crazy about tattooing, he documented this milieu in 1950s Tokyo. Unknown until their discovery in 2017, they were first published in a book the tattoo writer, in 2022.

Members of the Edo Chōyūkai Japanese Tattoo Lovers Club, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Members of the Edo Chōyūkai, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Self-portrait of tattoo writer Akimitsu Takagi, the Japanese writer mad about tattooing, ca. 1955, Tokyo

Akimitsu Takagi, self portrait, ca.1955.

Japanese tattoo by Tokyo tattoo master Horiuno I of a hannya mask, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tattoo by Horiuno I, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Japanese tattoo master Horiuno II in his Tokyo workshop, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

The tattooer Horiuno II, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Woman with Japanese tattoo backpiece by Japanese tattoo master Horiuno II,, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tattoo by Horiuno II, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Tattooed women with Japanese tattoos made by Japanese master tattoo artists Horiuno II and Horigorō III, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tattooed women wearing Japanese tattoos, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Woman with Japanese tattoo by the tattooer Horigorō III, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Woman tattooed by Horigorō III, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Tokyo tattoo artists Horigorō II and a client wearing a Japanese tattoo inspired by ukiyo-e artist Yoshitoshi, ca. 1960, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tokyo tattooer Horigorō II, c. 1960.

Tattoo machines of the tattoo artist Horigorō II, ca. 1960, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tattoo machines of Horigorō II, c. 1960, Tokyo.

Tokyo tattoo artist Horigorō II and customers with Japanese tattoos, ca. 1960, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Tokyo tattooer Horigorō II and clients, c. 1960.

Japanese tattoo by Japanese master tattoo artist Horiuno II, ca. 1955, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

Backpiece tattooed by Horiuno II, c. 1955, Tokyo.

Tokyo Japanese tattoo artist Horigorō III working with an electric tattoo machine, ca. 1960, Tokyo ©Akimitsu Takagi

The tattooer Horigorō III, c. 1960, Tokyo.