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This article is from the Tattoo FAQ, by Stan Schwarz with numerous contributions by others.

125 Where Can I Get Japanese "Irezumi" Tattoos?

Japanese "irezumi" tattoos are often associated with laborers (primarily
fire fighters and carpenters) and yakuza members, who stereotypically
also lack the tips of one or two digits on their hands (to signify a
failed order and to show loyalty--see the movie, _Black Rain_ with
Michael Douglas for an example). An excellent book to to see examples of
traditional Japanese bodysuits is _The Japanese tattoo_ by Sandi Fellman
(New York : Abbeville Press, 1986. 112 p.). For those interested in
getting work of this magnitude done however, the general answer is "ya
can't gets one." This is not only because of the time or costs
involved--there is a sense of the spiritual and of propriety with the
artists, who do not advertise their services in the Yellow Pages.

Your best bet as a "gaijin" (foreigner) is to find a Western artist who
specializes in oriental artwork. As trends go, the young Japanese are
now interested in tattoos of Elvis and Chevies, anyway--the grass is
greener on the other side, I guess.

If you can manage to attend the larger tattoo conventions, some of the
Japanese artists now travel the U.S. convention circuit regularly.

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