Artists

Owner and main artist of Kyoto Tattoo Studio and Tokyo Tattoo Studio.
Born in the USA and raised in Okinawa, he was always good at making things, ever since he was a child, and started his career as a craftsman at the age of 15.
At the age of 16, he was fortunate enough to meet a tattoo master who taught him the know-how of tattooing and he mastered the second dimension.
At the age of 20, he entered the door of a Buddhist sculptor and learnt three dimensions. From there, he acquired the skills of the top three in Japan in about five years.
As a result, he has mastered the two and three dimensions through Buddhist sculpture and tattooing, and with a new perspective and sensitivity, he has created art that go beyond the boundaries of tattooing.
Through his own research, he has developed new specialised techniques such as cover-ups and white tattoos, and has succeeded in fundamentally breaking down the traditional concept of cover-ups, which had many limitations in terms of what could be done.
He also possesses some of the best tattoo techniques in Japan, such as Neo-Japanese tattooing and Antima tattooing.
He is highly regarded both at home and abroad.

Born in Chiba Prefecture.
After graduating from high school, she was undecided about her career path, but decided to enter the world of tattooing, which was the only thing she was interested in.
She is one of the oldest members of Ray’s, and was one of the first graduates of the former tattoo assistant system.
She has never spilled out an excuse for the rigorous training she underwent, but with her natural adaptability and coolness, she has steadily completed the numerous instructions while at the same time developing her own adaptability to the maximum extent, and has faithfully and steadily learned Daniel’s techniques.
As a result of her consistent growth and development as an artist, she is now the person in charge of the Tokyo studio.
Like Daniel, she has no desire for a particular design, and her strength lies in her “lack” of commitment.
Her calm and unperturbed personality is also demonstrated in her counseling, where she is flexible and sincere in listening to her clients and offering advice, which gives her a sense of stability as an artist.
She puts all of her effort into designing what she hears, and the beautiful and delicate works that she produces never cease to attract many people, both in Japan and abroad.
She specializes in floral designs, which are still very popular these days, featuring a delicate touch using fine lines.
Her floral designs are popular for their combination of flowers and snakes, but she also receives many requests for animal portraits and various other designs.
She also receives a lot of support from overseas clients, especially for Japanese-style designs such as cherry blossoms, carp, and fans.
Although she mainly does black work, she also does color work without hesitation.
She also learned white tattooing and cover-ups from Daniel at Ray’s.
Daniel says it won’t be long before she will have mastered the true art of cover-ups.
She is the youngest member of the team at Ray’s, but she is still very confident in her ability to handle the many requests she receives each day.
“I want people to think carefully about choosing the right studio and the right artist to avoid bad cover-ups.
That is why we want to make sure that we meet the needs of the clients who come in. When you visit our studio, please feel free to ask us anything, and together we will create a beautiful tattoo that will leave you with no regrets.”

Born in Oita Prefecture.
He is one of the two surviving tattoo assistant students, one of about 30 in the past, in the current Ray’s. He was once a national triathlon champion and a member of the Japanese national team for four consecutive years.
He is fluent in English, having travelled around the world as a triathlete.
He also enjoys watching anime and listening to music, especially loud rock.
He was not interested in tattoos at first, but when his favorite artist in junior high school had tattoos, he found himself completely fascinated by the world of tattoos.
After experiencing unemployment in the Corona Disaster, he asked himself what he wanted to do most, and the answer he found was to become a tattoo artist.
After a rigorous selection process, he successfully made it to Ray’s as an assistant tattoo student.
Although triathlon and tattooing seem to have nothing to do with each other at first glance, he has shown a great deal of perseverance and dedication that he has cultivated during his athletic career.
Under the direct guidance of Daniel, he has been able to adapt to any environment, endure any upheaval, and become one of Ray’s representative artists.
He has developed into one of the leading artists at Ray’s, not only for his perseverance, but also for the designs he creates from his unique personality.
He spends time sincerely counseling clients, and his ability to create designs that meet their wishes, as well as his color sense, which he has honed over the course of his career at Ray’s, is a true testament to Daniel.
He has a kindness and deep compassion for animals as well, and has even built a deep bond with Mona, Ray’s signature dog, by sleeping and eating with her.
His strong artistic sense and personality are evident in the fashions he wears.
His strong artistic sense and personality are evident in the fashion he wears, and his absolute individuality can be seen in the tattoos he creates.
His specialty is “wotattoo,” a fusion of tattoos and subcultures such as anime and manga.
He is currently working hard to spread the goodness of wotattoo, which is gradually becoming more popular in Japan!
The theme of his work is “Itoshiki Inochi” (Itoshiki Life), and he is developing a world view that combines the dark and pop style unique to wotattoo.
He draws up a design from scratch and creates a tattoo with his high drawing ability and skill,
He is not limited to illustrative designs, but also incorporates abstract designs, original lettering, and various other designs into his own designs, and sublimates them into his own designs.
He specializes in color work associated with wotattooing, but he can also handle a wide range of black-and-gray and delicate designs.He also learned white tattooing from Daniel at Ray’s.
He is constantly working on his original designs, with the great goal of having Dr. Pepper, which he even calls his blood, as his sponsor once he has mastered the art of wotattooing.
Tattoos have a magical power to guide your life, and the act of carving them on your body is a way of saying, “I’m a tattoo artist.
And the act of having it tattooed on your body is a ritual, so to speak.
So it is not only about what you get tattooed, but also about who you choose to get it done,
I believe that the tattoo artist is the most important person in the world!
I express the beauty of tattoos in the form of wotattoos!
When you are sleeping or eating, you are always with your “oshi”!
You will be with your “oshi” for the rest of your life!
Of course, we can carve other genres as well, so please don’t hesitate to ask us about them.
Let’s have a wonderful time together!

Originally from Mie Prefecture.

One of my faint memories is how I always loved drawing since I was young. Although I wanted to make a career out of something I loved, I chose not to pursue becoming an illustrator or manga artist because tattoos were just so cool to me. I first became interested in tattoos when I was in high school. The thought of getting one someday was always in my mind, and then one day, I met Daniel from Ray’s. The first tattoo I received stunned me to my core, and I knew I wanted to become an amazing tattoo artist myself.

That was the moment my path was set on tattooing. If I were to become a tattoo artist, I wanted Daniel as my mentor, without question. I started by enrolling in tattoo school, and on the final day of the course, the intense passion I’d held in my heart spilled over. I went directly to Daniel, expressing my desire to become a tattoo artist and asking to become his apprentice formally. While he acknowledged my passion, he told me I needed to bring something tangible to prove my efforts. This was his response to me, Hokuto, at that time.

I immediately started drawing intensively, teaching myself tattooing and even practicing on the skin of family and friends.

Later, I ordered script tattoos on both arms at Ray’s, offering my skin to get a sense of the kind of work artists of my generation were producing there. Inspired and motivated by the advice I received, I was able to further refine my drawing skills.

In 2024, Hokuto passed the rigorous apprenticeship selection process and proudly became Daniel’s apprentice. That autumn, I made my debut as an artist.

I specialize in realistic designs and black-and-gray styles, always striving to improve, with Daniel as my ultimate goal. I aim to become a tattoo artist whose work can instantly be recognized as Hokuto’s at a glance, tirelessly working toward that each day.

Through my work, I want to bring brightness to people’s lives! My goal as a tattoo artist is to be a memorable, supporting character in everyone’s life. I aim to provide tattoos that enhance each person’s life, catering to individual needs.

Thank you for your support!

Born in Gunma, Japan. Since childhood, I have always loved drawing, sculpting, and working on intricate details. I enjoyed creating things with precision and care, finding joy in every fine detail. When I first took a tattoo school class at Rays, I became so immersed in the craft that I completely lost track of time. That experience was a turning point for me. Wanting to turn my passion into a career, I made the bold decision to drop out of university and start my apprenticeship at Rays to fully dedicate myself to learning the art of tattooing.

I first became interested in tattoos when I was 16. At that time, I had never even seen a real tattoo in person—it felt like something from a distant world. But I remember being deeply fascinated by it. Since there was little information available online, my understanding of tattooing was vague, and I only knew that tattoo artists existed. Looking back now, I’m truly glad I had the courage to join the school and take my first step into this world.

Rays first caught my attention when I was 16, as their YouTube channel was one of the first sources of information I found about tattoos. I would occasionally check their videos, but I never imagined that one day I would be here as an apprentice, learning the craft firsthand. Before joining Rays, I was studying sculpture at university, but after deciding to pursue tattooing, I dedicated myself to honing my skills in this field.

Though I am still gaining experience, I am particularly drawn to intricate and delicate designs. In the future, I hope to incorporate the techniques I developed during my student years and challenge myself with bold, black-focused pieces.

My goal as a tattoo artist is to listen closely to my clients’ requests and ensure that they are satisfied both artistically and technically. Since getting a tattoo is a deeply personal experience, I am committed to giving my best in every piece I create. Thank you for your trust, and I look forward to working with you!

Born and raised in Osaka, Japan.
I’ve always been the type to lose myself in creativity—whether it was sketching or diving deep into video games, I found peace in working alone, focusing on the details.

I never imagined I’d become a tattoo artist. It felt like something far beyond my reach—cool, but not for me. That all changed the moment I discovered the work of my mentor, Daniel, on social media. The raw power and elegance of his freehand tattooing hit me hard. It was more than inspiration—it was a calling. I knew right then: “I want to be like him.”

My journey into the world of tattoos began at 19. Before that, I had no interest—actually, I thought I’d never get one. But one day, a senior at my part-time job invited me to get my first tattoo, and I went along on a whim. That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world, and I haven’t looked back since.
After high school, I initially set out to become a hairstylist, but something just didn’t click. I hadn’t yet found anything I could throw myself into completely. Tired of feeling lost, I decided to take on a challenge—traveling across Japan by bicycle. Over the course of three months, I met countless people, heard their stories, and gained a new perspective on life.
That trip changed everything. I promised myself I’d live doing what I love.
While working at a restaurant to support myself, I spent every spare moment drawing—honing the craft that would lead me here.

My ultimate goal is to master every style of tattooing, but I’m especially drawn to portrait work. There’s something powerful about capturing emotion and realism on skin. I’m constantly evolving, both as an artist and as a person, aiming to create pieces that move people and stay with them for life.
I tattoo with heart, precision, and the belief that every client deserves something they’re proud to wear forever. Let’s create something unforgettable.

Born and raised in Chiba, Japan.
My fascination with tattoos began in my teens, but back then, societal judgment and family opposition made me suppress that dream. I pursued a career as an artist while working in the corporate world, got married, became a mother—and through each chapter of life, one thing remained clear: this is what I truly want to do. It may have been a late start, but I finally committed to the path of tattooing.

My earliest memory of being drawn to tattoos was as a child, secretly watching yakuza films with my father.
The visual power of tattoos in movies and manga shaped my imagination.
The first time I clearly recognized their beauty was in the film Red Dragon, where a character bears a back tattoo inspired by William Blake’s painting. I was also struck by the tribal-style tattoos worn by the Arlong Pirates in the manga ONE PIECE. Those visuals have stayed with me ever since.

When I first began considering a career in tattooing, I came across Daniel—one of the few artists showing his face and speaking openly in an industry that often hides in the shadows. That transparency left a lasting impression. I knew this studio was different. A year ago, without much of a plan, I applied as a guest artist. Looking back, it was a bold move—but the right one.
My journey began when I decided to become an artist at the age of five.
I went on to study at Tokyo University of the Arts and completed my master’s degree, focusing on oil painting, Buddhist art, and later, ukiyo-e. I then worked as an in-house jewelry designer before moving into freelance and contemporary art.

My favorite genre is tribal.
I love drawing on the traditional patterns of indigenous cultures around the world to create original, personalized designs.
Thanks to my previous experience, I’m also skilled in intricate detail work and take inspiration from Japanese painting and woodblock prints.
While working as a corporate designer, I often found myself asking: “Who am I really designing this for?”
I realized I didn’t want to create for mass appeal—I wanted to create for individuals.

That’s why I aim to become an artist who listens deeply and brings to life something truly unique for each client.
I believe a tattoo should align and enhance a person’s energy flow. It’s not just body art—it’s a form of protection, a personal talisman, and a visual expression of inner strength.
To deepen this approach, I plan to study traditional energy systems and meridians, alongside continuing to refine my design and tattooing techniques.

“I believe tattoos have existed since ancient times as a way to protect and empower the body and spirit.
It would be an honor to work with you in creating a symbol—your own personal talisman—that you can carry with you for life.”