THE INK編集部

THE INK is moving from Ikebukuro to Shibuhara XROSS in Harajuku on September 10, 2026. Visit the FLAG Tattoo Supply store on the 3rd floor or book one of 10 private tattoo booths on the 4th floor, just seconds from Meiji-jingumae Station.

A cover-up tattoo transforms or conceals an existing tattoo with a new design. Learn about suitable styles, planning, ink selection, aftercare, limitations, and costs from a tattoo-industry perspective.

Explore popular tattoo ideas for women, from floral and geometric motifs to lettering and celestial designs, plus guidance on placement, size, color, and aging.

Compare popular tattoo placements, including the forearm, upper arm, shoulder blade, ankle, and chest, by visibility, pain, healing, and lifestyle fit.

Second-generation Horihide and ESTO, two leading Japanese tattoo artists with three decades of experience, discuss how tattoo machines, needles, inks, aftercare, and the culture itself have evolved in modern Japan.

Learn what defines black and gray tattooing, from its signature shading and depth to popular motifs such as skulls, roses, mandalas, and animals. This guide also compares the style with color tattooing, blackwork, and realism.

Can tattoos keep your skin from “breathing” or sweating? We explore common tattoo myths about blood donation, insurance, hot springs, Apple Watch sensors, MRI scans, skin cancer, and more.