Strand Title: WITNESS

Programme Number & Title: PG014934  Japan’s Tattoo Outlaws

Date of Transmission: 13 May, 2018

Script Version:

Transmission date (known or approx):

Total Programme Duration (mins:secs):25 min.

Independent/Commission Producer: Hyoe Yamamoto / Deborah Barillas

Independent/Commission Producer Contact Details: hyoe@vesuvius.jp / deborah@vesuvius.jp

Commission/Independent Production Company and Address:

Honmachi 4-49-13-301, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan 1550071

Al Jazeera Commissioning Executive:

Al Jazeera Commissioning Executive Contact Details:

Al Jazeera producer/program editor:

Al Jazeera producer/program editor telephone number:

AL Jazeera bureau:

Instructions:

Please use colour-coding when listing contributors and sourced footage. This will enable those elements to be more easily compared and added to the PasC form.

Narration – in CAPS

Dialogue – in italics

Correspondent to Camera, PTC – in plain text  

Names and references as they appear in this transcript:

Time Code

(10:00:00:00)

Description of Scene

Audio

10:00:00:00

Program Starts

Location Strap:

OSAKA

JAPAN

B-Roll – Streets of Osaka and overhead shots of a paint palette and tubes.

Taiki Masuda checks the color of a paint on his hand. He begins to paint a wall.

10:00:22:21

Name Strap:

TAIKI MASUDA

TATTOO ARTIST

10:00:33:07

Taiki prepares his paint tube and paints a wall.

TAIKI: I began painting when I was 20 years old. I couldn't draw at all, so I started practicing to become a tattoo artist.

10:00:54:14

TAIKI: New School has always been my favorite style. With New School, you can combine pop and traditional. It's a freestyle tattoo genre

where you can do as you like.

10:01:13:06

Taiki shows his tattoo on his left arm.

TAIKI: This one here is New School. This baby is an inspired tattoo artist. That's why he's holding a tattoo machine. Tattoo artists usually have tattoo machines on them.

10:01:32:02

Taiki continues to paint.

TAIKI (VO): I can't tattoo at the moment. But it gave me a chance to see things objectively. I realised how lucky I was to be able to pursue something I love as a career. And my feeling for tattoo is growing even stronger.

10:02:05:09

Taiki’s drawings on the wall at his apartment.

10:02:15:05

Fact Strap:

In 2015, police in Osaka began cracking down on tattoo artists. A team of detectives raided Taiki Masuda’s tattoo studio.

10:02:22:00

Taiki Interview

Three Stills of Taiki tattooing

TAIKI: I opened the door. Five detectives were standing there. They came in with a warrant and told me I didn't have a doctor's license and that I was violating Medical Practitioner's Act.

10:02:46:04

Taiki Interview

TAIKI: I had never been in trouble with the law. My mind completely went blank. I was in a confused state.

10:03:05:20

Insert on Taiki drawing

TAIKI: They confiscated everything I had and took me in for a testimony. I was worried for my future. I was scared for a while.

10:03:24:07

Fact Strap:

Several tattoo artists were charged and fined for operating without a doctor’s license. Taiki was the only one who refused to pay.

10:03:33:08

Stills of Taiki’s work

Bug Strap: TATTOOS BY TAIKI

TAIKI: My career was short, but I was determined

to pursue tattooing as a career and make a living out of it.

10:03:46:11

Taiki Interview

TAIKI: There was no way I would accept the charge.

So I decided to take the case to the court.

10:03:58:10

Taiki walking up to the metro station

10:04:01:07

Fact Strap:

Two years after the raid, the trial begins at the Osaka District Court. Taiki goes to meet his legal team. 

10:04:10:11

Taiki on the metro car

TAIKI (VO): It's a human rights issue for me. My means of expression was taken away from me. My rights were violated.

10:04:36:10

Taiki meets his legal team

10:04:37:21

Story Strap:

PREPARATION FOR OPENING STATEMENTS 

10:04:44:06

 Lawyers talk to Taiki

MIKAMI: Just say that you have a statement to make.

10:04:47:15

Name Strap:

MICHIKO KAMEISHI

LEAD COUNSELS

10:04:51:14

Lawyers instruct Taiki

LAWYER: Keep your statement in the pocket. So you can take it out right away.

10:05:00:15

Name Strap:

TAKASHI MIKAMI

CHIEF COUNSEL

10:05:07:15

Michiko instructs Taiki

MICHIKO: Just start reading it.

TAIKI: You mean after...

MICHIKO: Take it from the top.

LAWYER 01: You heard the indictment. Do you have anything to say?

TAIKI: I prepared a statement. So I will read it. It is the fact that I tattooed my customers. However, I can't understand why my action is considered as a crime. Unless I fight this case, my occupation

will cease to exist. That is why I'm standing here today.

MICHIKO: You go around the table to get to the witness stand. There won't be much space there.

TAIKI: Go back the same way?

MICHIKO: That's right. You sit back in the chair. Then our opening statement.

10:06:11:14

10:06:50:15

Michiko practices opening statement

MICHIKO: Ten years after Taiki has found his calling, he was implicated as a criminal. The future of tattoo artists including Taiki and the survival of tattoo culture are at stake. That's it.

LAWYER 01: 22 minutes.

MICHIKO: That long? Any thoughts?

LAWYER 01: Social stigma thing works.

[MUSIC CUE] Starts

10:06:52:20

Journalists stand outside the Osaka District Court

10:06:54:15

Story Strap:

FIRST DAY OF TRIAL 

10:06:59:13

Taiki and his defence team enter the court house in the rain

10:07:13:12

Michiko Kameishi Interview

MICHIKO: This was clearly the case worth fighting for. But it was also clear that it could take a long time. I was certain the case would go

all the way to the Supreme Court.

10:07:29:06

Insert of a defence team outside the court house in the rain

MICHIKO: The public discourse was going to play a key role in this case. So I realized this was a huge task.

10:07:40:18

Michiko Kameishi Interview

MICHIKO: I had to make absolutely sure that Taiki was willing to go through with it all. So I told him if he's willing to see it through then I will help him.

10:07:58:09

Insert of a press conference

MICHIKO: By then he had already made up his mind

and his friends were also going to support him. So I approached my trusted peers and asked if they would help me with this case.

10:08:15:07

Michiko Kameishi Interview

MICHIKO: I told them I'm doing this for social justice. It concerns everyone because it's about protecting and preserving the rights for freedom of expression. It's a pro bono work. Can you help me? I told them all that.

10:08:37:03

Insert of a press conference

MICHIKO: That was how six of us came together to form a team.

10:08:54:02

Takashi Mikami Interview

TAKASHI: The charge was the violation of Medical Practitioner's Act. My thought was "What is Medical Practitioner's Act?" Why would doctors be responsible for tattooing? It made no sense.

10:09:11:23

Insert of Stills – Taiki tattooing

TAKASHI: Tattooing has never been a problem legally. The crack down came out of nowhere.

10:09:20:15

Takashi Mikami Interview

TAKASHI: So you have to be a licensed doctor to tattoo. But why would anyone do that?

10:09:29:21

Insert of tattooing

MICHIKO: There is strong prejudice against tattoo in Japan. It's deeply rooted in our society.

10:09:42:16

Michiko Kameishi Interview

MICHIKO: So there's a feeling that tattoo should be eliminated because many happen to dislike it.

10:09:50:14

Insert of Tattoo Ban Signs

10:09:59:02

10:10:15:09

Michiko Kameishi Interview

MICHIKO: So the majority is suppressing and excluding the minority. That's what it feels like happening. Maybe that suits well with the government. The same sentiment is perhaps shared with Japanese public in general. I don't know. But I can't stand it.

[MUSIC CUE] Ends

10:10:27:20

Taiki driving in a car

TAIKI: I grew up around here.

10:10:44:16

TAIKI (VO) : People still get in touch with me to get tattoo. But for now I have to turn them down.

10:10:53:15

Taiki working as a janitor

TAIKI (VO) : Since I stopped tattooing, I help my mother with her business of building maintenance and cleaning whenever I can.

10:11:29:19

Insert of Taiki’s mother’s residence

MIHARU: I said no. No way. I told him he can't fight the case.

10:11:39:16

Name Strap:

MIHARU MASUDA

TAIKI’S MOTHER

10:11:44:18

Miharu Masuda Interview

MIHARU: My friends told me I was being unreasonable. "Your son made a decision and you should support it," they said. "Your son will not change his mind just because you're against his decision." And I said, "it's easier for you to say. He's my son." So we got into arguments. Taiki doesn't tell me things, so I didn't know what was going on.

10:12:17:15

Stills of Taiki Collecting petitions

MIHARU: But he used my address for petitions. And I was stunned because so many came in. I mean every day constantly.

10:12:30:17

Miharu Masuda Interview

MIHARU: I realised that so many people were supporting my son and his cause. Then I thought that was really precious. I realised I had to support him.

10:12:51:09

[MUSIC CUE] Starts

10:12:51:20

Shots of a Save Tattooing event

TAIKI (VO) : There hasn't been any laws or rules on tattooing in Japan. So we want it to be recognised as a profession.

10:13:12:03

Taiki explains on camera

TAIKI: This is an opening party for a tattoo exhibition

by a group of artists. We're setting up a charity booth to get petitions signed.

10:13:25:15

Shots of petitions being signed and Taiki at events

A poster reads: “We Need 100,000 Petitions”

10:13:43:09

Save Tattooing Meeting with Taiki and other artists

ARTIST 01: The question is how do we get other tattoo artists to be interested, come together, and organise.

ARTIST 02: We have to throw a party. For tattoo artists in Osaka.

TAIKI: Is that going to make them come out?

ARTIST 02: That's an easy excuse.

TAIKI: I guess so.

10:14:09:07

More shots of Save Tattooing Event

TAIKI (VO): Through Save Tattooing, I hope to raise awareness and reach people outside the tattoo community as well to inform that the crackdown

like this is just wrong.

10:14:26:17

 Taiki Speaking at ab Event

TAIKI: We received a lot of support. And it's very encouraging for us. So we want to give it our best shot. Thank you.

[MUSIC CUE] Ends

10:14:44:15

Shots of a shopping arcade and Taiki walking

10:14:56:11

Story Strap:

SAVE TATTOOING FOUNDERS MEETING 

Taiki and two other founders check the comments on website

FOUNDER 01: Most of the comments

are negative as expected.

COMMNETS read:  "Just get a doctor's license." "A doctor's license at least."

FOUNDER 01: "No one will have problems

if tattooists ceased to exist." Yes. Sure.

TAIKI: Except us.

COMMNETS read:  "Simply illegalize tattoo. Japan doesn't need it."

FOUNDER 02: I don't understand where animosity comes from. Maybe they got bullied by tattooed gangs.

FOUNDER 01: They don't like tattoos and feel

that it should be eliminated. They are just personal opinions.

FOUNDER 02: Very biased ones.

FOUNDER 01: There was a time when 90 percent

of the customers were gangsters. But that completely changed in the last 30 years. Now 90 percent of the customers are regular folk. But the state or public is not aware of that fact. You've never tattooed gangsters right?

TAIKI: No. Never.

FOUNDER 01: I've run this studio for 8 years and no gangsters ever came.

TAIKI: I just can't understand why any tattooists should feel indebted to gangsters [for the industry’s survival]. I don't belong in that generation.

10:16:38:12

Shot of bullet trains

Location Strap:

TOKYO

JAPAN

[MUSIC CUE] Stars

10:16:46:07

Taiki riding on a bullet train

TAIKI (VO) : I wish it was over. It's not that I wanted to fight this. I was cornered into a situation where I had no choice. But I stand by my decision. No matter how long it may take, I'm determined to win the case.

10:17:21:05

Taiki at a radio station

TAIKI: I know there's strong prejudice.

DJ: It's easy to focus on that.

TAIKI: We just want to become legitimate. I know that in the past, it was associated with criminal activities. It certainly was the case. But in this day and age, the authority can't go around arresting us for not having a doctor's license. So all we're asking is a legislative measure be in place.

10:18:04:10

Taiki at a radio station

TAIKI (VO) : Before all this happened, I was preparing to work abroad. My plan was to go to Canada.

10:18:12:17

Taiki at a TV station

TAIKI (VO) : But my mom got very sick. I had to cancel everything. If I should lose this case, my choice is to leave. It will be difficult to pursue

tattooing in Japan.

[MUSIC CUE] Ends

10:18:42:16

Shot of Osaka

Location Strap:

OSAKA

JAPAN

10:18:49:10

Shot of a building

Fact Strap:

After a trial lasting four months, Taiki and his legal team prepare for closing statements.

10:18:55:01

Taiki and his legal team go over his statement

LAWYER 02: How did you study designing tattoos?

TAIKI: I looked at tattoo magazines.

LAWYER 02: You took ideas from the magazines?

TAIKI: Yes.

MICHIKO: What if the question is did you have any concerns at the time as an artist?

TAIKI: I was struggling because my designs tend to be similar to the work of my favorite artists.

MICHIKO: Because you were studying their designs, you were struggling to cultivate your own style.

TAIKI: Right.

MICHIKO: So that's the question we should be asking. Then we move on to the next one. You needed to study the work of other artists. But after a while, you developed your own style. So you stopped copying their style. Your artistry began to emerge. That's the story we want to hear from you. So we have to ask the right questions. We have to keep rhythm.

TAIKI: Yes.

MICHIKO: Not you. You don't have to worry about that. We really need to get the questions right.

10:20:38:22

The meeting continues.

LAWYER 02: When was the first time you tattooed someone other than yourself? How old were you?

TAIKI: I was 20 years old.

LAWYER 02: On who?

10:20:58:16

Taiki’s mother shows off her tattoo

Miharu Masuda Interview

TAIKI (OS) : My mother.

MIHARU: I wanted to be his first customer. That was why. It reminds me of so many thoughts and feelings. I was a single parent, so my kids had to put up with a lot of things and I wasn't able to spend enough time with my kids as they were growing up. Of course, I want him to be able to tattoo again, as any mother would want. But I don't know if he can win. Then again, it's also true that I'm hopeful that things could change because he took a stand. Even if it's a little bit. I sincerely hope so.

[MUSIC CUE] Stars

10:22:11:11

10:22:12:20

Taiki walking to the court house

Story Strap:

DAY OF CLOSING STATEMENT 

TAIKI (V0): It's been two years. There's a ray of hope. In the beginning, there was none. I was just scared. When we launched Save Tattooing, we received many criticism and negative opinions. But as we kept on going, bit by bit, our confidence grew. That's how I feel. Now I'm standing on the starting line. I owe it to the people who supported our cause. So this is just the beginning for me.

10:23:23:16

Taiki and his legal team walk into the court house

TAIKI (OS): As I stated in my closing statement, tattoo is my life. That's all I've done in my life.

10:23:40:17

Taiki and his legal team at a press conference

TAIKI: So for me, it's my life.

[MUSIC CUE] Ends

10:23:53:12

10:23:57:04

Exterior Shot of court house

Story Strap:

DAY OF VERDICT 

10:24:01:03

10:24:04:23

10:24:12:23

Shot of Taiki and his lawyers at a press conference

Fact Strap:

On 26 September 27,

The Osaka District Court found Taiki Masuda guilty as charged for violating the Medical Practitioner’s Act.

Fact Strap:

The ruling stated, “With tattoo treatment, medical knowledge and skills are indispensable in order to comprehend the dangers and carry out sufficient judgements and measures.”

TAIKI: Thank you for coming to the press conference today. We immediately appealed the verdict. It's regrettable. And I can't accept it. I want my life back as a tattoo artist. We will continue to fight.

10:24:52:05

Fact Strap:

The appeal hearing is expected to commence in June of 2018.

10:25:00:00

Program Ends