14Inking a Last Masterpiece

14
Inking a Last
Masterpiece
Japan
Documentary / HD / Japanese / 60 mins
We follow traditional tattooist Horiyoshi III, an artist held in high esteem by his peers, as he
tries to create a final tattoo suitable to crown his 45-year career.
SYNOPSIS
'Shu-ha-ri' refers to the process of an apprentice following the master's technique, breaking away from tradition,
and finally finding complete freedom within one's own
style. This description of the relationship between master
and student applies to many aspects of Japanese traditional culture, including the tea ceremony, martial arts
and various crafts. Traditional tattooist Horiyoshi III is
held in high esteem by his peers, as he continually tries to
achieve 'shu-ha-ri'. He is now working on his final piece
of art. We follow Horiyoshi III as he tries to create a tattoo
suitable to crown his 45-year career.
Horiyoshi III has tattooed more than 7,000 people. His
ser vices are booked six months in advance, and his
clients include famous artists and many visitors from
overseas. His tattoos are traditional Japanese 'wabori',
which use the technique of 'bokashi' to create delicate
gradations. Overseas tattoo artists also are impressed by
the technique of inking by hand rather than using a machine. Horiyoshi III's prominence is also due to his unique
designs, which are the results of careful research into the
work of artists such as the 'ukiyo-e' master HOKUSAI Katsushika.
In Japan, the culture of stunning, whole-body tattoos
flourished during the late feudal period. Commoners
developed the sophisticated, bold and sensuous culture
of 'iki', which was expressed through fashions and attitudes. Tattoos became part of the 'iki' culture. In later
years, as times changed, tattoos became taboo and were
for a time outlawed. Even so, tattooists remained true to
the ideas of their art as an expression of 'iki' and upheld
their traditions. Horiyoshi III carries on the tradition as
he continually strives for 'shu-ha-ri'. His son, Horiyoshi III
(Junior), also is fighting his own battle to step out from
his legendary father's shadow, and must eventually try to
achieve 'shu-ha-ri' himself. Horiyoshi III guides his son to
help him become Horiyoshi IV. By following Horiyoshi III
as he completes his final work, we can see what the future
holds for traditional Japanese tattoo artists.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I decided to meet Horiyoshi III because a tattoo artist of
my friend said Horiyoshi III was both the best and respectful. My friend was right. He was beyond my imagination.
Horiyoshi III's tattoos are magnificent and beautiful
enough to say they are part of the arts. I was overwhelmed and absorbed by his works, and I am strongly
convinced that Horiyoshi III should be filmed.
This is a kind of son-takes-over-his-father story. Horiyoshi
III has a sense of mission to remain traditional because
proper tattoo artists are decreasing in Japan. His son,
Horiyoshi III (Junior), also seriously thinks he has to succeed his father's name to become Horiyoshi IV. Horiyoshi
III understands that he is weak as he gets older. Moreover,
he has a severe kidney illness; he now hardly tattoos with
his own hands and uses inking machines more. Hand
inking is used only when he thinks it is necessary, but he
never throws away the hand-inking technique. Why does
he think the method of Japanese tattooing is so important?
Tattoos in Japan have been in the shadows because of
their connection with the yakuza. But I found out that
tattoos have a long history in Japan. King George V of the
United Kingdom had himself tattooed in Japan more than a century ago. Fire
fighters from 300 years ago had tattoos as a symbol of guardians because of
their work. I want every father and son to watch this documentary, in addition
to art lovers, to see how beautiful Horiyoshi III's last piece is and how his son
succeeds his father.
DIRECTOR
UCHIJIMA Usuke
UCHIJIMA Usuke learned documentary filmmaking with
independent productions in his early 20s. Now that he
is in the second year of his professional career, he shows
very talented skills by nature. UCHIJIMA frequently visits
Tohoku, the region seriously damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake,
where he has made documentaries on the struggles of the people there. He is
mainly working on the NHK documentary series Mirai-juku , which focuses on
specialists who advise young people in the Tohoku region on how to recover
from the disaster and reconstruct their town. He also works with college students who are performing unique activities to help people.
PRODUCER
DIRECTOR
UCHIJIMA Usuke
PRODUCER
KAWABATA Kohei
HAF GOALS
Funds, Co-producers
BUDGET
US$125,000
SECURED BUDGET
US$25,000
DIRECTOR’S FILMOGRAPHY
First Feature Director
KAWABATA Kohei
KAWABATA Kohei has been working on documentaries
since 1997 and joined Pao Network five years ago. His
experiences are spread over all types of fields, including a
documentary about the emotional conflicts of bureaucrats
from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Iraq War, in which Japan deployed its defence forces in another country for the first time since World War
II.
He recently has been working principally for NHK, focusing mainly on global
issues. His recent documentaries cover topics such as the United States' gun
problem, in which a member of an assembly in Tucson, Arizona, introduced a
progressive bill to control guns and faced aggressive opposition from gun supporters; the revolution in Egypt, where families are searching for their sons and
daughters who disappeared; and Syrian lobbyists who are negotiating with the
US government in Washington DC to intervene in the Syrian conflict.
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Pao Network
Pao Network was established 30 years ago and works mainly for NHK and other
broadcasters in Japan. The company has been awarded many prizes, including the ATP Award TV Grand Prix for Maria in New York (2012); the ATP Award
TV Grand Prix for Colonists in Mongolia (2006); the NHK Educational Production
Center Award for Learning for the Future (2013); the TV Asahi Contents Business
Award for Left Animals (2012); the Hoso Bunka Foundation award for Moorings
in the Sea (2001); and the NHK Arrange Department Award for Learning for the
Future (2013). A documentary about children from Fukushima was nominated
for an International Emmy Award. The company strives to be independent
from big broadcasters and to be a professional team.
CONTACT
KAWABATA Kohei
Pao Network
7-10-8-3F Akasaka Minato, Tokyo
Japan 107-0052
TEL
+81 3 5545 7731
[email protected]