Kenji Shigehara YK-TATTOO

Background & Style Overview

Kenji Shigehara operates out of Japan, running his studio under the name YK Tattoo, as reflected in his website domain yktattoo.jp. With over 152,000 Instagram followers, he has built a visible presence in the international tattoo community. His work sits at the intersection of three distinct styles: Japanese, illustrative, and neotraditional. That combination is less common than it sounds. Many artists lean hard into one lane. Shigehara moves between them, often layering elements from all three into a single composition. A koi fish might carry the weight of traditional Japanese iconography, but the linework has an illustrative looseness, and the color palette pushes into neotraditional saturation. The result is work that references deep tattoo tradition without getting stuck in it. His Instagram feed reads like a running portfolio, showing everything from small standalone pieces to larger compositional work that spans multiple sessions.

Japanese Tattoo Tradition & Cultural Context

Japanese tattooing, or irezumi, carries centuries of cultural weight. The motifs Shigehara works with, dragons, koi, cherry blossoms, oni, and waves, are not just decorative. Each carries specific meaning rooted in Japanese folklore, religion, and social history. A koi swimming upstream represents perseverance. A dragon symbolizes wisdom and protection. Cherry blossoms mark the fleeting nature of life. These meanings matter. They are not design choices picked from a lookbook. They reflect a visual language that has been developing for hundreds of years. Shigehara's approach to these subjects shows awareness of that lineage. His compositions follow traditional flow and body mapping principles, where the design works with the body's movement rather than sitting flat on the skin. For anyone considering a Japanese-style tattoo, understanding the cultural background is part of the process. If you are outside that culture, take time to research what the imagery means before committing. Browse Japanese tattoo ideas to see how these motifs are used across different artists and interpretations.

Illustrative & Neotraditional Approach

Here's the thing about combining illustrative and neotraditional techniques with Japanese subject matter: it changes how the tattoo reads on the skin. Traditional irezumi relies on specific hand-poked techniques and a limited color palette. Neotraditional work, by contrast, uses machine-applied bold outlines and vibrant, modern pigments. Illustrative linework adds a hand-drawn quality that softens the rigidity of traditional borders. Shigehara uses this mix to his advantage. His pieces maintain the narrative weight of Japanese imagery but feel more accessible to collectors who want something that reads as contemporary. The color saturation in his neotraditional pieces gives them a painterly depth. The illustrative linework keeps them from feeling over-polished or generic. What most people miss is that this hybrid approach requires real control. Push too far into illustration and the tattoo loses impact. Lean too hard into neotraditional boldness and the subtlety of the Japanese motifs disappears. The balance is the skill.

Popular Motifs & Subjects

Shigehara's portfolio leans heavily into Japanese mythological and natural subjects. Dragons appear frequently, rendered with the coiling movement and scale detail that the tradition demands. Koi fish show up in both standalone pieces and larger compositions, often paired with water and floral elements. Floral work, particularly cherry blossoms, peonies, and lotus flowers, serves as both primary subjects and background texture. Oni masks and tengu figures bring the darker, more dramatic side of Japanese folklore into his work. Beyond the Japanese canon, his illustrative sensibility opens the door to more personal or unconventional subjects. Portraits, animal studies, and narrative scenes appear in his feed alongside the traditional repertoire. The common thread is a commitment to detailed linework and considered composition. Even smaller pieces carry the same level of structural intention as his larger work. Quick tip: if you are drawn to his style but unsure about committing to a large Japanese piece, start with a smaller motif that still reflects his aesthetic. Explore tattoo ideas by style to find what resonates.

How to Book & What to Expect

Shigehara does not list pricing, hourly rates, or booking policies publicly. This is standard for artists working at his level. With a following of over 150,000, demand is real, and most sessions are likely booked well in advance. The best way to reach him is through his website at yktattoo.jp or via direct message on Instagram at @kenji_shigehara_yktattoo. When you reach out, come prepared. Have reference images that show the style and subject you want. Be clear about placement and size. Artists working in Japanese and neotraditional styles need this information to give you an accurate quote and timeline. Vague requests get vague responses. The real question is whether your idea fits his style. If you send him a photo of a micro realism piece, you are wasting both your time and his. Look at his portfolio first. Make sure the work you want aligns with what he actually does. If you are still exploring, try the AI tattoo generator to visualize your concept before reaching out to any artist.