hajichirei

[hajichirei]

Pretty pissed people reblog this with the tag “tattoo” and that’s the only tag. Can you read?

What am I even saying, this is Tumblr

I’m stoked body ink is becoming more socially acceptable but at the same time there is so little social responsibility by both artists and consumers…

Even using the term “tattoo” (bastardized version of the Samoan word tatau) is directly related to the cultural appropriation and commercialization of the art by/for colonizers.

My pieces are more than aesthetic, as hajichi were banned by Japan since the late 1800s as a form of cultural genocide (specifically targeting women). I’m the first to wear them in my family in at least five generations.

It’s not that I think people can’t get body ink for aesthetic purposes (or create characters with ink), but I think it IS important to ask where the designs are coming from and what they really represent. It goes back further than you think.

And, as always, who is really profiting?

[hajichirei]

mfw someone looks at my hajichi and asks “getting ready for Halloween?”

#hajichi #indigenous art #hajichiaa #handpoke #okinawa #okinawan #uchinaanchu #body art #body ink

[hajichirei]

Baldur's Gate 3 Appropriates Sacred Indigenous Tattoos

I was so disappointed to boot up the character creation for Baldur's Gate 3's full release, only to see they added tattoo designs that are very clearly copying from sacred tattooing practices of the Inuit and the Māori.

^ This is clearly copying Tunniit.

^ This is clearly copying Tā moko.

Please do not use these tattoos. Larian should never have included these designs. I personally plan on modding them out of the game at the first opportunity.

[hajichirei]

Maui Donations

Put together some safe donation links for anyone who can spare a few dollars to help the victims of the Lahaina fires. It's unfortunately going to get a lot worse before it starts getting better. These links are to established organizations that directly assist Maui residents.

Please reblog and add any new (verified) resources.

If anyone knows Maui residents looking for a temporary housing relief, please message me directly. Obviously I can't house everyone, but my 'ohana can make some room for yours in Hilo. I've been trying to figure out where I can sign up to volunteer a bed, but I haven't found anything yet--if anyone knows, please add and reblog.

#maui #maui fires #hawaii

[hajichirei]

I’m stoked body ink is becoming more socially acceptable but at the same time there is so little social responsibility by both artists and consumers…

Even using the term “tattoo” (bastardized version of the Samoan word tatau) is directly related to the cultural appropriation and commercialization of the art by/for colonizers.

My pieces are more than aesthetic, as hajichi were banned by Japan since the late 1800s as a form of cultural genocide (specifically targeting women). I’m the first to wear them in my family in at least five generations.

It’s not that I think people can’t get body ink for aesthetic purposes (or create characters with ink), but I think it IS important to ask where the designs are coming from and what they really represent. It goes back further than you think.

And, as always, who is really profiting?

#maybe ive just seen too many ‘indian girls’ and ‘tribal’ pieces idk #respecting the art is also a way of respecting yourself and others #hajichi #handpoke #indigenoustattoo #sticknpoke #indigenous art #indigenous art revival

[hajichirei]

continuing the left hand 💕

couldnt find time to finish everything but still good practice to sketch it out anyway

hajichi questions always welcome, lets decolonize together 🫶🏽

#hajichi #hajichiaa #handpoke #selfpoke #okinawa #okinawan #uchinaanchu #uchinaa #haitai #haisai #indigenoustattoo #indigenous art #indigenous cultural revival

[hajichirei]

before and after home touch ups. getting better ar using my left hand.

had a client last week but forgot to take pics, but i at least remembered my own photos this time 🙄😂

hajichi : uchinaanchu handpoke (colonized name: okinawan tattoo, banned by Japan in the late 1800s)

any shimanchu/okis in hawai’i/moku o keawe looking to get their hajichi hmu 🤙🏼

#hajichi #handpoke #okinawa #stick and poke #indigenous #indigenous art #indigenous cultural revival #Tattoo #Not japanese #absofuckinglutely not

[hajichirei]

Before and after pics for my updated pinky hajichi. Been putting this off to be able to handpoke clients (tough wearing gloves with new ink and sweaty hands) but taking a break for personal and family health finally got me enough time to work on my own set again.

#tattoo #hajichi #handpoke #okinawa #shimanchu #stick and poke #self poke #indigenoustattoo #uchinanchu #sticknpoke

[hajichirei]

before and after touch up on my middle finger. not too shabby considering I’m right handed

#tattoo #hajichi #handpoke #okinawa #shimanchu #stick and poke #uchinanchu #indigenoustattoo #sticknpoke

[hajichirei]

Touched up my right thumb today (originally done by chiruu on ig). I’d say pretty good job, considering I’m right handed.

Gonna let it heal and slowly touch up my right fingers one at a time. It’s always going to be a thing and I like it that way. There’s such a meditative space when self poking, especially hajichi. Decolonizing with every poke.

#tattoo #hajichi #handpoke #okinawa #shimanchu #stick and poke #uchinanchu #indigenoustattoo #selfpoke #itoman #uchina honto #uchinaanchu #sticknpoke

[hajichirei]

me on ig

#handpoke #sticknpoke #stick and poke #tattoo #tattoos #tattooing

[hajichirei]

another five hours of handpoke 🌺

#hajichi #okinawa #shimanchu #tattoo #uchinanchu #handpoke #stick and poke #indigenoustattoo

[hajichirei]

Hajichi progress! Another five hours handpoke added on.

#hajichi #tattoo #indigenoustattoo #okinawa #okinawan #uchinanchu #shimanchu #loochoo #uchina #yeah that's right I got stich leggins and you want them so bad #handpoke #stick and poke #stickandpoke #sticknpoke

[hajichirei]

some lemon-scented freehand practice

#handpoke #stick and poke #tattoo #hajichi #tattoo apprentice #hajichiaa #okinawa #uchinanchu #shimanchu

[hajichirei]

https://metropolisjapan.com/reviving-a-stigmatized-tradition/

[hajichirei]

i had to get my picture taken for a class and the (white?) photographer like asked me questions about my hajichi like "is it a real tattoo" and "it looks like sharpie" it made me feel bad and not good. GRR!!! it wasnt explicitly Agressive questioning but i just wanted to cry TwT like! compliment my epic cultural tattoos or IGNORE THEM PLEASE...... i also feel like insecure about them not being "real" tattoos rn. ugh like! i don't know you! pissed me off. i had to get another picture for class recently and i just dodged class and left early LOL

that's infuriating omg, at least it wasn't explicitly aggressive but people have Got to learn to mind their business. at least it's USUALLY coming from genuine curiosity and not, like, straight up malice (keyword being usually. people are weird about hand tats at the best of times lol) but that doesn't excuse people being weird about it anyway :/

also with your hajichi not being a "real" tat yet, trust me i understand! i wanted a hand moko before i was even 11. over a decade of white people telling me it's a bad idea later, i finally got it done and i'm super happy about it! i hope you're able to get it done soon but don't worry too hard basically! speaking from experience there's plenty of time still :)

[hajichirei]

Photograph from 1919 of a young woman being tattooed with Okinawan hajichi, a practice outlawed in 1899. Source: Saito Takushi, Irezumi bokufu: Naze irezumi to ikiru ka,Yokohama: Shunpu sha, 2005, p.174.