Yoji Harada
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese tattoo artist
and musician
who gained fame from his appearances in the TLC
reality show Miami Ink
.
, Japan before moving to Chicago
where he met and married his first wife Bonnie Minkus. In 1998 he moved to New York City
, New York
in order to pursue his dream of being a professional musician. He started hearing The Clash
on the radio as his motivation and whereas he was progressing with making music in Japan, his dream was to be a success in the United States. Upon arriving in New York he joined a punk rock band called 'Big Deal' which lasted for several years before his relocation to Miami, Florida
to tattoo for Ami James. Yoji stated that he worked for Ami for 5 years before requesting the role of apprentice upon his girlfriend Bridgette becoming pregnant. He said, “One night I find out my wife was pregnant. I had to start making some real money, you know, so I asked Ami James if I could apprentice and he said yes".
Working at Love and Hate Tattoos under Ami James, the television show Miami Ink
spawned and thrust Yoji into the public eye leading to huge fame in his native Japan. The show chronicled Yoji's progression from apprentice to official tattooist, as well as his marriage to Bridgette and the birth of his daughter Sydney (born 2005). The success of the show allowed Yoji to return to his real passion and regroup with his band 'Big Deal'.
Alongside fellow Miami Ink tattooist Darren Brass
, Yoji has since developed the infant clothing company 'Ruthless and Toothless'.
as a comedian whose partner commits suicide on stage.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese tattoo artist
Tattoo artist
A tattoo artist is an individual who applies permanent decorative tattoos, often in an established business called a tattoo shop, tattoo studio or tattoo parlour...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who gained fame from his appearances in the TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
reality show Miami Ink
Miami Ink
Miami Ink is an American reality show on TLC that follows the events that took place at a tattoo shop in Miami Beach, Florida. The show premiered in July 2005 and has finished broadcasting its fourth season...
.
Biography
Yoji was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan before moving to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where he met and married his first wife Bonnie Minkus. In 1998 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in order to pursue his dream of being a professional musician. He started hearing The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
on the radio as his motivation and whereas he was progressing with making music in Japan, his dream was to be a success in the United States. Upon arriving in New York he joined a punk rock band called 'Big Deal' which lasted for several years before his relocation to Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to tattoo for Ami James. Yoji stated that he worked for Ami for 5 years before requesting the role of apprentice upon his girlfriend Bridgette becoming pregnant. He said, “One night I find out my wife was pregnant. I had to start making some real money, you know, so I asked Ami James if I could apprentice and he said yes".
Working at Love and Hate Tattoos under Ami James, the television show Miami Ink
Miami Ink
Miami Ink is an American reality show on TLC that follows the events that took place at a tattoo shop in Miami Beach, Florida. The show premiered in July 2005 and has finished broadcasting its fourth season...
spawned and thrust Yoji into the public eye leading to huge fame in his native Japan. The show chronicled Yoji's progression from apprentice to official tattooist, as well as his marriage to Bridgette and the birth of his daughter Sydney (born 2005). The success of the show allowed Yoji to return to his real passion and regroup with his band 'Big Deal'.
Alongside fellow Miami Ink tattooist Darren Brass
Darren Brass
Darren Brass is an American tattoo artist. He featured in reality television show Miami Ink. He cites Chris Garver, Joe Vegas, Bob Roberts, and Ed Hardy as influences....
, Yoji has since developed the infant clothing company 'Ruthless and Toothless'.
Trivia
Yoji made a brief cameo in the Japanese thriller Suicide ClubSuicide Club (film)
Suicide Club, known in Japan as is a 2002 Japanese independent horror film that gained a considerable amount of notoriety in film festivals around the world for its controversial subject matter and gory presentation, and has since developed a significant cult following. It won the Jury Prize for...
as a comedian whose partner commits suicide on stage.