Horitomo's Cattoos

Kazuaki Kitamura (nicknamed "Horitomo") is a Japanese tattoo artist who is skilled not only in the use of an electric tattoo gun, but also in the much more painful traditional art of tattooing by hand.

A cat lover, Horitomo has produced a delightful series of prints called "Monmon Cats" (which I believe simply means tattooed cats or perhaps "cattoos"). Some are whimsical and some are fierce. Indeed, some are so fierce that people call them "Yakuza Cats" (after the notorious Japanese mafia-style gangsters).

This next one is entitled "Severed Head and Sakura" (cherry blossoms). It sends a real mixed message, doesn't it? Nice samurai blade though, kitty!

Of course, Horitomo also tattoos his cats directly on clients --

And here is the artist himself, with a non-tattooed friend --