Tattoo Art, the Inspiration behind Restaurant Sake Dojo

At Sake Dojo restaurant (also renowned for its excellent culinary offerings), whole sections of wall are decorated with aquatic-themed Japanese tattoo patterns. These perforated plywood panels let in the light and are also modular, making it possible to create private rooms by sliding them across like fusuma, traditional Japanese doors.

Opened in 2018, Sake Dojo is a restaurant located within the Mikado Hotel in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district. Known for its bar that offers over 120 varieties of sake, it also has a sushi bar and serves cuisine reminiscent of French bistronomy. 

A tattoo artist serving as a painter

When it came to decorating the restaurant, architects from the firm Wick Architecture and Design worked hand in hand with the artist Horifuji, a San José-based Japanese tattoo specialist; it was he who produced the drawings of the tattoos that adorn the walls of Sake Dojo. The designs, much larger than an average tattoo, reveal all their minute details, thus demonstrating the sheer dexterity that would be required to transfer them to the skin in actual size. The ancient art of Japanese tattooing, which dates back to the country’s first inhabitants, is admired across the world, particularly in the US, but remains controversial in its country of origin.

The architects prioritised a rich mix of styles and themes for the other decorative elements, which include American film posters translated into Japanese—such as Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic (2004), in a nod to the restaurant’s overall theme. The space also displays vintage cameras and Japanese cookery books. 

More information on the Sake Dojo restaurant can be found on its website.
Address: 333 E 1st Street Los Angeles, California, United States