The Japanese artist Ozuma Kaname, born in Niigata in 1939, was trained in classical Japanese painting by his uncle Sakai Soushi. His images are mainly inspired on the traditional subjects to which he adds beautifully tattooed (wabori) female figures tied-up in inescapable poses.
Horiyoshi III
Ozuma’s paintings were a major influence on the work of the popular tattoo artist Horiyoshi III (1946). In return, Horiyoshi’s clients were frequently used as models for his paintings. He signed his work only with his family name.
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Irezumi
Although Ozuma mastered the art of Japanese traditional tattooing, called irezumi, he himself became a huge inspiration for contemporary tattoo-artists. Especially his second book, published in 1995, is now an important reference.
Submissive Poses
In a review on one his exhibitions in The Loving Living Gallery (2015) I read that when you examine Ozuma’s paintings on silk in real-life, the detail is incredible. The female protagonists are largely depicted in submissive poses, with the male (if present) dominating, holding the female figures down in position.
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Genital Area
The female figure bodies are large, round and graceful. All characters are Japanese. The nudes feature flowing lines moving down the entire body including genital area. The private parts are always subtly hidden by twigs, ropes, a kitten (Fig.4), water (Fig.5) or simply by the pose in which the body is presented to the viewer.
Fig.3. (Source: Terrienseul)
Jigsaw Puzzles
His depictions of dragons and Buddhist deities can not only be found in the tattoo subculture but also in mainstream Japanese culture (such as jigsaw puzzles and postcards). This is quite an accomplishment since tattoos have a bad stigma in Japan. Ozuma Kaname’s tattoo paintings are seen as masterpieces among irezumi connoisseurs. He died from cancer in 2011.
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Fig.11. (Photo source: http://www.kwjhjgc.com/)
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The following video shows more amazing tattoo art by Ozuma Kaname:
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Click HERE for ancient shunga art with tattooed protagonists or HERE to check out the corpulent mistresses of Namio Harukawa…!!
Who is your favorite Japanese bondage artist? Leave your reaction in the comment box below….!!
Anonymous
on 22 January 2018Marijn
on 23 January 2018Darya
on 10 March 2020Marijn
on 10 March 2020Ozuma Kaname – Animus Meminisse Horret
on 17 August 2020