Horimouja drew with a fude (brush) and sumi ink. The PDF retains the brush pressure. A skilled tattoo artist will mimic this with a magnum needle configuration, rather than a tight liner. Attempting to trace these designs with a standard 3RL needle will result in a stiff, dead tattoo.
This PDF is unique because it isn't a portfolio of finished tattoos. Instead, it is a —a collection of original ink wash paintings and pencil drafts intended for future Irezumi bodysuits. Because Horimouja was notoriously secretive, this PDF represents the only public archive of his visual vocabulary. 100 Japanese Tattoo Designs By Horimouja.pdf
Unlike the commercialized tattoo studios of Tokyo's Shibuya or Roppongi, Horimouja operated in the shadows, focusing solely on Tebori (hand-poked) tattooing for the Yakuza and traditional craftsmen. His nickname, "Mouja," translates roughly to "Ghost" or "Haunted One," fitting for an artist who rarely photographed his finished work on skin but left behind a treasure trove of preparatory sketches. Horimouja drew with a fude (brush) and sumi ink