My name is Toshio Shimada and I’m a tattoo artist. I was born in Brazil and I now live in Japan. My parents are of European and Japanese origin. I started tattooing in Brazil with my father in 1985. In 1994 I opened my own studio in Japan. My style of tattoo is called Wabori (Japanese style) and also Tebori (by hand) style that uses bamboo sticks bundled together forming many needles at the top. I use my own Tebori too for some events. My tattoo drawings of demons and dragons have many stories. As tattoo artists in Japan we work in groups. Due to the strong sense of community in the Japanese culture. I work with one artist by the name of Leeloo. She came from France and is now living in Tokyo. I worked in Gunma prefecture, north of Tokyo for several years and now Ellen Kawashimo is working there. I have a second tattoo studio in Tokyo, Shibuya area where I currently do my work. I work mostly in traditional Japanese styles, sometimes the old school “sailors tattoo” style. I have worked in various places around the world. Some of these places include Rome, Valencia Barcelona
Madrid New York, and Miami. Sometimes
I work i Los Angeles doing private
tattooing and working on new
designs. I enjoy participating in
various tattoo conventions all
around the world. I would like
to join more when ever I get
the opportunity. |
