The Tattoo Murder Case was originally published in 1948; this is the first English translation.

In closing, the translator deserves some kudos for the excellent translation. The subtly inserted short explanations provide the novice with direct understanding with many concepts and the atmosphere of the original text has been carefully preserved.


Disturbing Series of Murders   September 8, 2004
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

I like the post-war Tokyo setting of this story. References are made to the horrors and trauma of war suffered by former Japanese soldiers. It also describes the wide discrepancy between different groups of people as they hold onto wealth and status, or madly scramble to grab them. We also see glimpses of black market and yakuza life styles. The murders are creepy and disturbing, and the psycho-sexual world of tattoo customers is nicely underlined. I'm not sure I quite believe the Boy Genius as a viable character, but I'm going to read the other books by Akimitsu Takagi as they become available.


Under the Skin of the World of Japanese Tattoo   October 24, 2000
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

In a magnificent mystery written in 1947 the author explores the underworld of the Japanese tattoo masters, their secrecy, their rituals, and their beautiful art. A major plot element centers on a fictionalised version of the famous museum of Dr. Fukushi in Hiroshima, filled with the preserved tattooed skins of the Yakuza, and an archivist who years to collect the finest work, perhaps a bit prematurely. An absolute must-read for anyone involved in the tattoo world, it is also a story that presents clever turns of the plot until at last the amateur forensic detective puts all the clues together in a riveting conclusion. This is a recent translation of the work into English and features a beautiful cover with a photograph of a tattoo by the master tattoo artist Horiyoshi III.


Post War Dead Culture Intrigue   April 18, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Akimitsu Takagi's The Tattoo Murder Case is a crime novel that fits comfortably into its genre. The nourish elements are all presenting the narrative. The troubled detective is following the trail of a crime that has inherent mystery surrounding both its perpetrator and its victim. But the novel is more enthralling than just these basic details. The detective, Kenzo, is locked in the culturally ruined Japan of post World War Two. The after effects of the Atomic Bomb are scattered throughout the narrative. This leaves a dark residual cast over all of the characters. The sense of a seedy underworld is revealed to reader as the narrative carries on. Another aspect that is uncovered is the sense that Kenzo is trapped in a necrophiliac relationship with the dead tattooed woman who has been stripped of her prized full body designs. This post-mortem aura surrounds all of the characters and draws parallels to the `dead' world in which they live. A strong commentary is made on the after effects of world war. Altogether it is a fantastically well crafted novel that will draw readers into an unfamiliar cultural moment and a mystery with uncertain outcome.