Miami Ink's Yoji And His Big Deal

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Preamble:

Yojiro Harada [1] is a household name among tattoo aficionados now, thanks to his real life role as the humble apprentice on TLC's Miami Ink [2]. While his passion for tattooing is showcased for millions of viewers every week, his first love - punk rock music - is more like a well-kept secret that Yojiro, a.k.a. 'Yoji,' wants everyone to know about. He first fell in love with punk while growing up in Japan and always wanted to play music in the United States. Yoji will soon graduate from apprentice to full-time tattoo artist, and his New York band Big Deal have just gotten back together, proving that passions and dreams, even when they compete, have a way of leaving their mark on America. Read on - Yoji has another surprise up his sleeve...

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I'm hanging out in New York right now, but I was born in Japan. I grew up with lots of different kinds of music, but I always liked punk rock the best.

When the radio started playing The Clash [3], I was just in complete and total shock. I really liked it and I thought, 'This is something I can do.' I was in a band in Japan, but I really wanted to make music in the United States. That was my dream.

When I moved to New York for the first time, I really liked the music scene. I played with a punk rock band for a couple years and then moved down to Miami and started working in tattoo shop.

The first time I ever got a tattoo was when I was 18 years old, and I've been getting tattoos ever since. It's addictive. If you get one, you just want more, more, more and more. Now I've got tattoos all over my body, but I never actually wanted to be a tattoo artist myself.

I had been working at the tattoo shop for over five years, and then one night I find out my wife was pregnant. I had to start making some real money, you know, so I asked Ami James [4] if I could apprentice and he said yes.

Ami and Chris Nunez [5] are old school tattoo artists, so I have to learn in the old school style. Sometimes it's difficult, but it's cool and I really appreciate what I've learned.

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When people ask me what I love more, tattooing or music, it's a very difficult question for me. I love music. I love tattoing. Music was my first passion, but I love all art too. I don't know.

It was hard to quit music a little bit when my wife was pregnant. Just recently actually, I called my friends in New York and our band Big Deal got back together. The people that come out to our shows always say they like what we're doing, and they are supportive.

It's really hard to balance music and tattooing, especially because I just found out my wife is going to have another baby.

When my kids grow up, they aren't allowed to have tattoos. No tattoos. No way.

So, now everybody knows I love music and I love tattoing. If you want to find out something else you don't know yet, you'll just have to watch the TV show next season and keep up with Big Deal.

I just want to be a good father and work hard. That is my goal.

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If you know a Miami Ink fan, e-mail this story to them and help spread Yoji's good news. If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy:

I Tattooed The Guiness World Record Holder For Most Tattooed Woman [6],

Pullquote:

When the radio started playing The Clash, I was just in complete and total shock. I really liked it and I thought, 'This is something I can do.'