On view until September 28, 2025
The Museum of Fine Arts of Carcassonne is hosting an exceptional temporary exhibition: “The Art of Japanese Tattooing”, open to the public until September 28, 2025. This unique immersion into the world of traditional Japanese tattoo art is made possible through the private collection of Xavier Durand, A Japanese art enthusiast and curator of the exhibition.
A Visual Journey from the Edo Period to the 20th Century
The exhibition traces the rich and often overlooked history of tattooing in Japan, from its roots in the Edo period (1603–1868) to its evolution and influence in the 20th century. Through rare and striking works, it reveals how Japanese tattooing, once marginalized, became a respected form of graphic art.
Silver Gelatin Prints by Akimitsu Takagi
Among the highlights of the exhibition are four silver gelatin prints by renowned photographer Akimitsu Takagi, offering a powerful aesthetic and social perspective on modern Japanese tattoo culture:
An iconic photograph of the Edo Chōyūkai club, captured beneath a waterfall. This group of tattoo enthusiasts keeps alive the spirit of old Edo (now Tokyo), where tattooing was a popular and codified art form.
A dynamic scene taken during the Sanja Matsuri festival, one of Tokyo’s three major street festivals. The image shows tattooed members of the Edo Chōyūkai carrying a mikoshi (portable shrine) through the vibrant streets of Asakusa, in a moment of pure adrenaline and devotion.
A print featuring two women, partly undressed, quietly admiring their tattoos. One wears artwork by Horigorō III, while the other bears an elaborate back tattoo by Horiuno II, depicting Jiraya, a legendary character from Japanese folklore. The tattoo spans her thighs, buttocks, and upper arms—demonstrating the technical and artistic mastery of the tattooist.
Lastly, an image shows Horigorō II in action, recreating a battle scene from the novel Suikoden on a client’s back using an electric tattoo machine of his own design. The Horigorō tattoo family is known for crafting their own tools—a tradition that began with the adoption of Western-style machines by the family patriarch, Horigorō I.
📍 Carcassonne Museum of Fine Arts
15, boulevard Camille Pelletan
11000 Carcassonne, France
