Dialogue: Revitalizing Indigenous Okinawan Tattoos Hajichi

In partnership with the Edison Uno Initiative for Nikkei and Uchinaanchu Studies at SFSU
Wednesday, 12/17/2025
6:00 - 7:30
Virtual Library

United States

Register

Join a lively conversation with tattooists Molly Kitamura and Erin Nagamine and Professor Cassie Miura. Learn Okinawan tattoos called hajichi and its history.

Speakers: 

Molly Kitamura is a tattooist of State of Grace Tattoo. She is a published author of Knives and Needles: Tattoo Artists in the Kitchen (2019). 

Erin Nagamine is a multidisciplinary artist, tattooer and doodler of all things. Her work moves between skin, paper, canvas and wood. A mix of tradition, storytelling and play.

Cassie Miura, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies and Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Distinguished Endowed Chair in Nikkei Studies at the San Francisco State University (SFSU). Her research and teaching interests include Okinawan diaspora and Nikkei literatures. She is currently at work on an academic monograph about hajichi revitalization. 

Keywords:

  • hajichi - Okinawan tattoos
  • Uchinaanchu - Okinawan people 
  • Nikkei - Japanese Americans

Image credit: Erin Nagamine, "Ripples."

Connect:

Molly Kitamura - Website | Molly Kitamura - Instagram | Molly Kitamura at SFPL - YouTube

Erin Nagamine - Website | Erin Nagamine - Instagram 

The Edison Uno Initiative for Nikkei and Uchinaanchu Studies - Website 

Living Tattoo Traditions: American Irezumi and Beyond: List of Related Programs  

Interesting in hajichi? Learn more from the book titled Lee A. Tonouchi, Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos (2019).

The author Lee A. Tonouchi won the 2023 Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Association for Applied Linguistics.

This virtual program is part of the Living Tattoo Tradition exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library (02 October 2025 - 01 March 2026).

Living Tattoo Traditions: American Irezumi and Beyond - Website 

 

 

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This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

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This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

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