Lee's 101 and Five Portraits.

In addition to my tattoos, it’s a shop where you can get a haircut, a manicure, and buy souvenir-type goods. Since it’s a business model that combines so many different services, we actually get quite a few customers who come for reasons other than getting a tattoo. When I’m sweeping in front of the shop in the morning, a local lady will sometimes call out, “What are you doing?”—and little by little, we’re starting to feel like we’re really becoming part of the community.

We live in an age where everyone’s on social media, right? But there are some things you just can’t understand unless you actually come into the shop, so that’s something I really value. When people get a tattoo, I want them to have a conversation with me and take something meaningful away with them. Sometimes young people come to me saying, “I don’t know what I want to do,” or I end up giving relationship advice—but even those counseling-like moments are part of the tattoo experience. Also, I want this to be a place that embodies a kind of “coolness without trying too hard”—a place that reminds you to just be your usual self.

There’s one thing above all else: doing the dirty work. I do everything by hand without using a machine, and if you think about efficiency, you could say it’s a waste of time. But I do those “wasted” things anyway. This isn’t limited to tattooing—it applies to my side job as a landscaper, and it’s true as a father, too. Even when I’m tired, I still do the housework. There’s a consistent theme of giving of myself, even at my own expense.

That’s exactly what I use as an analogy when explaining it to customers—hand-carved tattoos are like a pair of well-worn jeans; the more time passes, the more they blend with your skin, and they still look cool even when they’ve worn down a bit. Machine-carved tattoos, on the other hand, have a flat, sticker-like feel that never changes, no matter how many years go by. Hand-carved tattoos are more like deadstock. Of course, it’s not a matter of one being better than the other, but since tattoos are permanent, I think the beauty of hand-carved work is that you can choose something that will blend naturally with your skin over the long term.

Basically, I’ve always worn workwear. I have a role model named Matti Maseson—he’s a chef and actor. He actually designs workwear himself, and even though his clothes look worn out, he still looks cool. He’s a multi-talented guy who also has a family and makes sure to spend quality time with his kids. He’s the type who wears the same clothes day in and day out until they’re worn out, so I’ve been influenced by that and often choose pieces that will last a long time.

I usually wear coveralls when I go for this kind of boxy silhouette, but since this denim jacket is shorter than that, it felt like a fresh change. It would definitely look cool if I could wear it until I’m around 50 and let it get all worn out and weathered. I want to wear it a lot and make it my own.

I'm a working man.