MICHI
TATTOO ARTIST VANCOUVER, BC
About　MICHI
Born in Hyogo, Japan, Michi is a tattoo artist and visual artist based in Vancouver, BC. Over more than 12 years of tattooing, his work has been shaped by realism, portraiture, watercolor, painting, punk music, and years of traveling and learning from different cultures.
His approach combines technical detail with emotion, texture, contrast, and movement. From realism to more experimental work influenced by Trash Polka and abstraction, Michi believes a tattoo should be more than an image — it should carry the story and meaning of the person wearing it.
Today, he continues to tattoo, create, travel, and explore new ideas while running Fall Back Down Tattoo in New Westminster, BC.
BEFORE TATTOOING
FINE ART & PAINTING
Before tattooing became his career, art began as a growing curiosity. After receiving his first tattoo in Toronto, Michi became increasingly interested in drawing and visual art. While later living in Whitehorse, Yukon, he began painting regularly, building a body of work alongside a very different career path.
At the time, Michi was studying culinary arts in Whitehorse and later worked professionally in kitchens after graduating. Outside of work, he continued painting, gradually developing a collection of original artwork. Through friendships he formed with people at a local tattoo shop, he was eventually given the opportunity to present that work in his own art show.
2014
BEAUTY IN DARKNESS
Solo Art Exhibition — Whitehorse, Yukon
In 2014, after building a growing collection of paintings while living and working in Whitehorse, Michi held his solo exhibition, Beauty in Darkness.
The exhibition was a personal project from beginning to end. Drawing on his culinary background, Michi also prepared the food served at the event himself. Beauty in Darkness was later featured in the local newspaper, marking an important milestone in his development as an artist.
Drawing on his culinary background, Michi personally prepared the food served at the exhibition.
FROM CANVAS TO SKIN
THE BEGINNING OF TATTOOING
After becoming a permanent resident of Canada, Michi returned to Toronto to pursue his next goal: becoming a tattoo artist.
With his portfolio in hand, he visited tattoo shops looking for an apprenticeship. After an unsuccessful first attempt, he met the artist who would become his mentor. Rather than simply looking through Michi’s work, his future mentor took the time to study his portfolio and eventually offered him the opportunity to begin his apprenticeship.
It marked the beginning of Michi’s formal training as a tattoo artist and the start of his professional career.
Early days of Michi’s apprenticeship in Toronto — learning the craft under his tattoo master and mentor, James, who also tattooed Michi during this period.
To teach Michi the fundamentals of cover-up tattooing, James trusted him with his own tattoo — guiding him through one of Michi’s earliest cover-up projects.
BEYOND THE SHOP
LEARNING THROUGH THE TATTOO WORLD
During the early years of his tattoo career, Michi realized that learning could not happen inside one shop alone. While working other jobs to support himself, he spent as much time as possible learning, tattooing, attending conventions, and studying different techniques.
That curiosity eventually took him beyond Canada. He began traveling internationally for tattoo conventions and guest spots, building friendships with artists while also finding inspiration outside the tattoo world — in museums, architecture, history, street culture, and the places he encountered along the way.
Travel became an important part of Michi’s artistic education. The experiences, cultures, and artists he encountered continue to influence the way he approaches tattooing and art today.
Tattoo conventions, guest spots, and travels throughout Europe.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Tattoo Conventions — Europe & North America
Michi received his first tattoo convention award in 2019 at the East Flanders Tattoo Convention in Belgium, winning Best Portrait. Since then, his work has received six awards at tattoo conventions across Europe and North America.
BUILDING SOMETHING DIFFERENT
From Artist to Shop Owner
After years of working in different tattoo environments, Michi began to feel that the industry could sometimes be more competitive than supportive. Rather than continuing to search for the right shop, he decided to create the kind of environment he had always wanted to be part of.
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Much of that philosophy came from punk music and its sense of community — the idea that people look out for one another, regardless of age, background, or differences. That spirit eventually became part of the identity of his own shop.
The name Fall Back Down Tattoo was inspired by “Fall Back Down” by Rancid, a song whose message of friendship and standing by one another reflected the community Michi wanted to create.
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Today, Fall Back Down Tattoo is built around mutual respect, individuality, and a shared love of tattooing — the kind of environment Michi had spent years searching for.
Fall Back Down Tattoo — New Westminster, BC
Clients Beyond Vancouver
My work has connected me with people far beyond Vancouver. Over the years, clients have travelled from across Canada, the United States, and overseas to work with me.
For me, that trust means a lot. Whether someone lives nearby or travels a long way for a tattoo, I approach each project as a collaboration and create something specifically for that person.
STILL MOVING FORWARD
The Journey Continues
Michi has never seen opening his own shop as the end of the journey. He plans to continue traveling, tattooing, experiencing different cultures, and learning from art around the world.
For him, travel is part of his artistic education — a way to discover new ideas, perspectives, textures, and stories that continue to shape his work.
There is always more to learn, more to see, and more to create.
