2024 is the first “real” Sanja Matsuri since Covid prevented public gatherings in Japan, and even though the event took place in 2023,  the hesitation to arrange large festivals still persisted last year.

My photo series explores the power dynamic of a powerful group of men, in some ways living on the underground of Japan, in others tolerated by society, and very much interwoven in the fabric of the country.

This religious festival celebrates the founding of the Senso-Ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, even though some people say the festival is used by the Yakuza to gather funds and launder money.

They also use it as an opportunity to show their power in showcasing their tattooed body suits and themselves, as though they almost prove themselves invincible despite the many legal and illegal activities they’re involved in and the issues they are facing.

This was the first year that the men showcasing their body suits were prevented from doing so at Senso-Ji Temple as well as the park they set up their camp every year, an indication that people’s patience might be wearing thin. 

In contrast to their perceived status in Japan, their float and presence attract foreigners from across the Western world, especially a lot of tattooed people and tattoo artists - including myself.