
#Majima goro tattoo series
Series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu earned his nickname “The Dragon of Dojima” partly through his striking dragon tattoo. The final design of each tattoo is centred around the character’s personality and their role in that narrative.īelow is some of Horitomo’s best work featured throughout the Yakuza franchise, boasting incredible designs and detail while paying homage to Japan’s mythological figures.

Horitomo collaborates closely with Sega and RGG Studio to establish the design of all tattoos in the series. One such artist is Horitomo, who has been with the Yakuza series from the very beginning, and his work has since become an integral piece of the franchise’s identity. This is because tattoo artists use a technique known as Tebori or ‘hand carving’, which involves using bamboo sticks with a needle as opposed to a tattoo machine. The cost is an equivalent of £10,000 and can take up to a year to complete in weekly sessions. Although not all yakuza can get a tattoo, as shown in a report from the BBC, a tattoo master must decide whether the person is worthy. Instead the tattoos are designed to reflect key moments in the individual’s life and their personality traits. In Japan, tattoos are not necessarily a link to the yakuza in and of itself. It’s through these characters and their iconic back-piece tattoos – often on display when a jacket and shirt are ripped off in one fluid motion – that Yakuza is able to explore Japan’s rich mythology and folklore. The Yakuza series has also garnered a reputation for its gripping storytelling and memorable characters.


The neon-lit district of Kamurocho is digital tourism at its finest, highlighting the nightlife, food, drink and activities that are all unique to Japan. The Yakuza series from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega is an unabashed celebration of Japanese culture.
