There is a man who, for over 11 years since his early 20s, has dedicated his time, money, and even his life choices to "biomechanical tattoos."
His name is Biomech Ryu-ya.
This article delves into why he chose this path, what he gained, and what he thought about it, as he completed his full-body biomechanical tattoo.
■ Profile
Name: Biomech Ryu-ya
Age: 35
Occupation: Welder
Instagram: @oishiimizu24
He is an ordinary company employee. During work, he wears protective clothing, so his tattoos are not exposed.
At first glance, he seems like a perfectly normal member of society, but his body is adorned with full-body biomechanical tattoos, a rarity in Japan.
■ It all started with a "failed first tattoo"
His first tattoo was at 20. He did it himself, but "the quality was much lower than expected."
At the time, he lived with that tattoo, feeling somewhat resigned, thinking, "Is this what tattoos are like?"
A turning point came four years later.
Learning about the option of "cover-up," his perspective on tattoos completely changed.
After learning about "cover-up" in 2014, his journey toward full-body biomech accelerated rapidly.
From this point, a long journey began that continues to this day.
■ Why biomech?
The reason Biomech Ryu-ya was drawn to this genre lies in his childhood experiences.
Since childhood, he had been strongly attracted to designs that were somehow "unsettling."
What left a particularly strong impression was the OVA series Kamen Rider ZO.
Its design, like a fusion of living organism and machine.
Including the worldviews of the movies 'Alien' and 'Predator' that he later became absorbed in, the aesthetic of "biology × machine" was subconsciously ingrained in him.
When he learned about the biomechanical tattoo genre, he instinctively understood.
"This is what I've always loved," he thought.
■ The reason he kept going to the same tattoo artist for 11 years
He consistently went to the same tattoo artist for 11 years, "without cheating." He had sessions once or twice a month.
At the time, there were only a handful of tattoo artists in Japan who could do biomechanical tattoos seriously.
Among them, he decided from the beginning to entrust his body to a single artist.
Sessions often lasted 8 hours, and he himself doesn't keep track of the number of sessions or total time spent.
The only thing certain is the "years of accumulation" itself.
■ His "life design" was heavier than the cost
The amount spent was over 7 million yen, under 8 million yen. "Roughly 7.5 million yen including various things."
Many people would be surprised to hear this amount.
However, what's more noteworthy is the life design he chose for it.
To focus on tattoos, he chose to "build a house" instead of living alone in his early 20s.
He decided to rebuild his parents' house and opted for a joint loan with them.
He also chose a fuel-efficient hybrid car and minimized living costs to the extreme.
It was all "to fully invest in what he loves."
■ The "real pain" he understood after getting tattooed all over his body
The most painful area was the top of his foot. "Tears, sweat, and oily sweat, everything came out."
During the two-hour session, there was no escape.
Other areas like his ribs, V-zone, back of his head, and behind his ears also caused intense pain.
He sometimes experienced a temporary fever after a session, but it never lingered.
■ Between tattoos and society
Hot springs, pools, gyms.
In Japan, there are still many restrictions due to tattoos.
Insurance was taken out before getting tattoos, so there were no issues.
He also didn't have a strong attachment to hot springs or pools originally.
On the other hand, he sometimes gets turned away from gyms, which he finds inconvenient.
"Your tattoos are cool," foreigners tell him. At live concerts and festivals, they become a conversation starter.
■ What convention awards mean
In 2024, he won the Best Body category at King of Tattoo.
He also won multiple categories at the Tokyo Bay Tattoo Festival.
What was recognized was not "himself," but the tattoo artist's skill.
His stance has been consistent throughout.
■ Message to the industry
His message to the industry is "Artist First."
Tattoo artists have their preferred styles, and if you interfere without understanding that, the work will suffer.
Instead of judging based solely on price or social media information, trusting and entrusting them will ultimately lead to the coolest tattoos.
He feels a sense of crisis about the ambiguity where anyone can claim to be an artist on social media. "We need textbook-like guidelines."
■ Beyond completion
Now that he has completed his full-body biomechanical tattoo after 11 years, he doesn't have a clear next goal yet.
Nevertheless, while enjoying live concerts and hobbies that he had previously restricted,
he says he wants to be involved in revitalizing the Japanese tattoo scene if needed.
The story of a man who pursued a single aesthetic through his body,
continues quietly.