Japanese tattoo specialist at Ink and Dagger, Roswell Georgia
My history in the tattoo industry started in the late 90's through body piercing. I had a full career there but was feeling unchallenged. I maxed out — there are only so many ways to do each piercing. By 2016 I was tattooing full time, spending years cutting my teeth, honing my skills, dialing in my technique.
Japanese tattooing as an artwork was always top of mind for me. My first big tattoo was my right sleeve — a Japanese water theme with a koi and multiple lotus flowers. One of my earliest tattoos was a Spider-Man piece on my leg. It's really cool to me that after all of these years I'm still interested in the same subject matter and now get to tattoo it on other people. This style has been with me much longer than I have been tattooing.
As a student of traditional Japanese tattooing, I'm always learning — the folklore, the history, the stories, the meanings, the rules. Why do certain things get drawn together? Why is the karashishi (foo dog) always connected with the botan (peony flower)? What's the difference between an ume (plum blossom) and a sakura (cherry blossom), when do you use each, and which would you pair with a botan? Mixing pop culture characters into Japanese themed pieces, pulling art straight from comics or bringing anime to life — that's exciting for me too.
I landed at Ink and Dagger in Roswell, Georgia through a relationship that goes back years. Russ and I worked together long before I was tattooing and I've always looked to him for guidance. When it came time to change shops, Russ was the first and only call I made. By June of 2022 I was part of the crew. This place has been perfect for me — not only did the shop and the environment challenge me to grow, it gave me the resources and tools I needed to fill that potential.
At the end of the day I'm an artist, no doubt. As a tattooer I'm part of the service industry. My job is to help people, and I'm grateful to be able to do that through art. I get to help people heal, to grow, to feel more like they envision themselves.
Japanese tattooing isn't just a style — it's a system. Subjects carry specific meaning. Composition follows principles about flow, balance, and how the design relates to the body in motion. Wind bars, waves, and negative space aren't decoration — they're structural.
I go deep into the meaning behind every subject with my clients. A lot of people come in wanting a hannya mask because it looks powerful — and it is. But it's also the image of a woman consumed by jealousy and grief, rooted in Noh theater. Once I share that history, some clients lock in even harder. Others realize it's not the message they want to carry. Either way, that conversation makes the work better.
I'm not Japanese and I don't claim a lineage I don't have. What I bring is ten years of focused craft, serious technical skill, and genuine respect for what makes this tradition distinct from any other style of tattooing in the world.
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Ink and Dagger · Roswell, Georgia · custom work only · limited monthly availability