74. LUKE ATKINSON - Japanese tattooing at its finest

About this episode

Luke Atkinson shares his insights on Japanese tattooing and the tattooing process at the Aachen Tattoo Convention.

Live from the 2025 Aachen Tattoo Convention—one of the world’s finest tattoo gatherings—we bring you a conversation with the legendary Luke Atkinson. A master of Japanese tattooing with over 40 years of experience, Luke has crossed paths with some of the most influential artists of our time, including Horiyoshi, Filip Leu and many more. In this episode, Luke shares insights on commitment, the price of knowledge, the value of the process, and the importance of honoring the clients who allow us to do what we love. His wisdom is the kind that can reshape the way we approach our craft—no matter where we are in our journey. Luke’s energy is contagious, and talking with him was a real pleasure—something that was felt not just by me, but by everyone in the audience. I hope his words inspire you as much as they inspired me. And if you ever get the chance, make sure to experience the Aachen Tattoo Convention for yourself—it’s truly a well of inspiration and learning from some of the best in the world. Thank you Andreas Coenen and the whole podcast crew that made this possible. Checker Demon IG Checker demon website Checker Demon books Aachen Tattoo Convention IG…

People in this episode

Host: Stef Bastiàn

Guest: Luke Atkinson

Topics covered

• Japanese tattooing
• tattoo culture
• artist insights
• craftsmanship
• Aachen Tattoo Convention

Keywords

• Japanese tattooing
• tattoo convention
• Luke Atkinson
• tattoo artistry
• craftsmanship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Aachen Tattoo Convention, Checker Demon

Places: Aachen

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