Irezumi

by Dallas Angguish

Tattoos, cherry blossoms and skin. Amidst the beauty of a Japanese monastery garden, we meet handsome Aiki Matsuo. Aiki is a monk, but he's also the 'favorite' of a number of Japanese tycoons. But there's one tycoon who stands above the rest, who is close to his heart, literally, for the tycoon's emblem - a chrysanthemum in full bloom - is tattooed on Aiki's chest. The reasons why become apparent as Aiki strips off to explain Irezumi, the Japanese art of tattoo, and to tell the story of each of his tattoos. This short piece is by Dallas Angguish who has been described by Lambda Literary Review as 'something of a genius' and as 'Truman Capote's literary heir'.

23 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2012