In 2012, I was fortunate to be part of a delegation from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to attend the opening of “Japanese Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” in Tokyo. Over 100 pieces were in the exhibition, most of which hadn’t been in Japan in over 100 years. One of the pieces in the exhibition was Soga Shōhaku’s “Dragon and Clouds,” a 35-foot long painting that would have originally decorated sliding doors. The painting stood out, even amongst all of the other pieces in the show. Being there on opening day, seeing the crowds of people lined up, and meeting a Princess, was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I knew the painting would make an amazing tattoo, and I was really happy it was my first. @ChadChesko at Fat Ram’s in Jamaica Plain did a great job translating the painting onto my leg.
