A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Tara’s Geisha

This geisha portrait tattoos is by Anson Eastin at Pleasures of the Flesh in Fort Myers, Florida.

Comments

58 responses to “Tara’s Geisha”

  1. Jackrriot Avatar

    Wonderful girl’n’ gorgeous geisha!

  2. Jackrriot Avatar

    Wonderful girl’n’ gorgeous geisha!

  3. ÈMþRê§§ Avatar
    ÈMþRê§§

    Simply exquisite.

  4. ÈMþRê§§ Avatar
    ÈMþRê§§

    Simply exquisite.

  5. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    how fantastic!! this is a wonderful tattoo.

  6. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    how fantastic!! this is a wonderful tattoo.

  7. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    great tattoo of Suyuri (sp) but its not a real maiko/geiko lol.
    Still, the detail is amazing

  8. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    great tattoo of Suyuri (sp) but its not a real maiko/geiko lol.
    Still, the detail is amazing

  9. Sassix Avatar
    Sassix

    I wonder why she took out all the piercings for the pic? I see a nostril, a madonna, and possibly an old surface bar try under the clavicle… Either way, I really like the placement of this tattoo. The blank space of the face and the gown works really well.

  10. Sassix Avatar
    Sassix

    I wonder why she took out all the piercings for the pic? I see a nostril, a madonna, and possibly an old surface bar try under the clavicle… Either way, I really like the placement of this tattoo. The blank space of the face and the gown works really well.

  11. veronica Avatar

    this is very well done .. 🙂

  12. veronica Avatar

    this is very well done .. 🙂

  13. mpatshi Avatar

    wauw, that’s a pretty tattoo!

  14. mpatshi Avatar

    wauw, that’s a pretty tattoo!

  15. Fitzzz Avatar
    Fitzzz

    That is a really pretty tat with solid placement and is of fairly high quality…but why did she take out her piercings?

  16. Fitzzz Avatar
    Fitzzz

    That is a really pretty tat with solid placement and is of fairly high quality…but why did she take out her piercings?

  17. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I think this is a lovely tattoo…but I too was wondering why her facial piercings seem to be missing?

  18. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I think this is a lovely tattoo…but I too was wondering why her facial piercings seem to be missing?

  19. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    It looks just like a watercolor 🙂

  20. lilish Avatar
    lilish

    It looks just like a watercolor 🙂

  21. Jay.O Avatar
    Jay.O

    beautiful photo

  22. Jay.O Avatar
    Jay.O

    beautiful photo

  23. kt Avatar
    kt

    the photo and tattoo are both lovely.

    but am i the only one who wonders why so many white people continue to appropriate Japanese/ Asian culture like this? it just rubs me the wrong way.

  24. kt Avatar
    kt

    the photo and tattoo are both lovely.

    but am i the only one who wonders why so many white people continue to appropriate Japanese/ Asian culture like this? it just rubs me the wrong way.

  25. john Avatar
    john

    but am i the only one who wonders why so many white people continue to appropriate Japanese/ Asian culture like this? it just rubs me the wrong way.

    Posted by kt on February 6th, 2007 at 8:45 pm

    What the hell are you on? Your against people enjoying and embracing other cultures, youve got a future in politics, son.

  26. john Avatar
    john

    but am i the only one who wonders why so many white people continue to appropriate Japanese/ Asian culture like this? it just rubs me the wrong way.

    Posted by kt on February 6th, 2007 at 8:45 pm

    What the hell are you on? Your against people enjoying and embracing other cultures, youve got a future in politics, son.

  27. waxfrog Avatar
    waxfrog

    Wonderful artwork, love the use of colour.

  28. waxfrog Avatar
    waxfrog

    Wonderful artwork, love the use of colour.

  29. Abby Avatar
    Abby

    It makes me happy that people can appreciate and find beauty in other cultures/ethnicities.

    Beautiful.

  30. Abby Avatar
    Abby

    It makes me happy that people can appreciate and find beauty in other cultures/ethnicities.

    Beautiful.

  31. Helena Avatar

    Love the tattoo, the wearer, the colours…the whole shot is just perfect; I could really see this as a cover to a magazine or something.

    Also, if her monroe has been retired for a while and not just removed for the shot, I totally wish mine looks like that when I take it out someday because I really love the pocketed look it leaves behind.

  32. Helena Avatar

    Love the tattoo, the wearer, the colours…the whole shot is just perfect; I could really see this as a cover to a magazine or something.

    Also, if her monroe has been retired for a while and not just removed for the shot, I totally wish mine looks like that when I take it out someday because I really love the pocketed look it leaves behind.

  33. sophie Avatar
    sophie

    I love that her face mimics her tattoo. Beautiful.

  34. sophie Avatar
    sophie

    I love that her face mimics her tattoo. Beautiful.

  35. Max Avatar

    how many times am I gonna see that exact same picture tattooed on someone?!

  36. Max Avatar

    how many times am I gonna see that exact same picture tattooed on someone?!

  37. babefox Avatar

    very delicate work, i loved it.

  38. babefox Avatar

    very delicate work, i loved it.

  39. Dawnie Avatar

    Oh I love it, very beautiful.

  40. Dawnie Avatar

    Oh I love it, very beautiful.

  41. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    It’s gorgeous, but I also wonder why so many people with, presumably, no ties to Japanese culture (and I may be wrong in the case of this particular person, but it’s news to me if all, or even a slim majority, of the people getting these tats do) choose to have Geisha tattooed on them.

    I wonder what it symbolizes to these people with no ties to Japanese culture, and I can’t help but think that it must be vastly different from what it symbolizes to Japanese people. And I think that says something about how we percieve other cultures and their symbols, yes.

  42. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    It’s gorgeous, but I also wonder why so many people with, presumably, no ties to Japanese culture (and I may be wrong in the case of this particular person, but it’s news to me if all, or even a slim majority, of the people getting these tats do) choose to have Geisha tattooed on them.

    I wonder what it symbolizes to these people with no ties to Japanese culture, and I can’t help but think that it must be vastly different from what it symbolizes to Japanese people. And I think that says something about how we percieve other cultures and their symbols, yes.

  43. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Jeez, as if Japanese people aren’t getting Western tattoos as well (and I could give a zillion other examples). We live in a world where we communicate internationally — of course we’re going to be influenced by other cultures, sometimes accurately, sometimes in caricature.

  44. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Jeez, as if Japanese people aren’t getting Western tattoos as well (and I could give a zillion other examples). We live in a world where we communicate internationally — of course we’re going to be influenced by other cultures, sometimes accurately, sometimes in caricature.

  45. Phro Avatar

    Personally, it IS the caricature that I find bothersome. Stereotypes/caricatures are terribly difficult to avoid and, often, come with good reason, but I don’t think that’s a good reason to promote them.

    As a “gaijin” with multiple kanji tattoos, I’m not one to talk shit about cultural appropriation. But, echoing other posts, I’m curious as to the reason for selecting a geisha tattoo–especially the western image of geisha filtered through a western book and then a western movie. Not in a “you’re-not-Japanese-so-you-shouldn’t-have-anything-related-
    to-Japan-tattoo” way, but with curiosity. It’s always fun to meet people who are interested in the same subject, but, without the typical pre-picture explination, too much is left to assumption.

    (I should add that while Memoirs of a Geisha was written by a “gaijin”, it was based off of the relation of events of a true geisha, lending it some much needed credibility.)

    Also, it’s quite entertaining to realize that the average Japanese person doesn’t REALLY know all THAT much more about historical Japan than the average foreigner. Clearly this is a broad generalization, and probably more centered on the younger generation, but, unless one sets out to purposefully study something, it’s very unlikely that one will know much about it only by living in the right country. (I.e. being born Japanese doesn’t mean that one can read every kanji properly or that one is knowledgable about the vast cultural history of one’s homeland.)

    I’m talking in circles…

  46. Phro Avatar

    Personally, it IS the caricature that I find bothersome. Stereotypes/caricatures are terribly difficult to avoid and, often, come with good reason, but I don’t think that’s a good reason to promote them.

    As a “gaijin” with multiple kanji tattoos, I’m not one to talk shit about cultural appropriation. But, echoing other posts, I’m curious as to the reason for selecting a geisha tattoo–especially the western image of geisha filtered through a western book and then a western movie. Not in a “you’re-not-Japanese-so-you-shouldn’t-have-anything-related-
    to-Japan-tattoo” way, but with curiosity. It’s always fun to meet people who are interested in the same subject, but, without the typical pre-picture explination, too much is left to assumption.

    (I should add that while Memoirs of a Geisha was written by a “gaijin”, it was based off of the relation of events of a true geisha, lending it some much needed credibility.)

    Also, it’s quite entertaining to realize that the average Japanese person doesn’t REALLY know all THAT much more about historical Japan than the average foreigner. Clearly this is a broad generalization, and probably more centered on the younger generation, but, unless one sets out to purposefully study something, it’s very unlikely that one will know much about it only by living in the right country. (I.e. being born Japanese doesn’t mean that one can read every kanji properly or that one is knowledgable about the vast cultural history of one’s homeland.)

    I’m talking in circles…

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