Shirts Off!

What is a "shirts off!" photo are you asking, well basically your hanging out just chillin' with a bunch of your tattoo artist friends and then someone wants to take a photo of you guys and boom! Next thing you know someone screams "shirts off!" and all of your friends are topless and mean mugging the camera. It's pretty amazing to say the least and a photography trend and I am personally all for. I don't think anyone really knows the origin of the "shirts off!" tattoo photos, I just know it is generally the opportunity for a bunch of dudes who sit around all day to rip their shirts off and bare their tattoos for all to see. I know Chad Koeplinger is a big fan of "shirts off!" and so is Horitaka. I also know everytime a group of heavily tattooed guys get together, cameras present or not, clothing will probably start peeling off. The old "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours..." go figure. After writing the last blog, I started thinking...because this is definitely my first "shirts off!" experience...thankfully the yoga's really paying off, I mean did you see my abs? and being surrounded by a dozen dudes, Rubendall excluded, who mostly don't work out probably also helps... Since this is clearly NOT Taki's first "shirts off!" photo I thought I would take this moment to look back and reflect on some of my favorite "shirts off!" moments of Taki and the gang...


shirts off! at the nation's capital!


shirts off! at the National convention in Reno!


shirts off! at Asaksa with Horiyasu


shirts off! at the San Jose tattoo Convention!

PS I'm taking all submissions if you have "shirts off!" photos to add!

State of Grace takes it off!

Check out these beautiful photos that Suzuki of Soft Machine took of us after the convention.



This piece was done for FLJ magazine. FLJ is out of Tokyo and showcases street wear and mens fashion. Of course we are quite the fashion plates over here and clearly fit right in,



as the stylist on the shoot, Horitaka felt it would best represent our shop style to do these pics as he says "shirts off!" So enjoy the extra skin and have a killer weekend!

Thanks to Kosuke and Soft Machine for making this happen!

"Viral" video

Sometimes you watch a video and, as hard as you try, you cannot unwatch it. So, um, enjoy...
*for those of you at work don't worry, it's pretty PG.













Thanks Kelly, Dari and creepy unicorn guy for making this blog possible. And I have no idea nor care who did any of these crappy tattoos!

STORMY WEATHER is here

Here's sister Rosetta Tharpe jammin' on her sick SG to help us get through the rain... let's dance!


"Down By The Riverside"

Sister Rosetta Tharpe | MySpace Music Videos

Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby





The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.



-Langston Hughes



*first two images Horizakure, followed by Kaz, lastly Horitomo.

for those of you who couldn't make it...

Here is the video that Jon Agcioli, our full time photo/videographer put together after Horitaka and I lectured at the Asian Art Museum,

Samurai: Asian Art Museum SF from John Agcaoili on Vimeo.

check it out!

Why children, why?

Sorry guys, I am about to ruin your day. It is my job at the SOG Log to bring you the best in the worst. I personally waste numerous hours scouring the internet for the absolutely most terrible tattoo related shit imaginable. Trust me I bypass a lot of marginally lame stuff. So, I actually found this treasure on a website worth wasting a few hours on called Look at this Fucking Hipster, not a bad name or a bad site for that matter... anyway back to business,




Dude, Chad Koeplinger called he wants his glasses back!

Feast your eyes on this...

This footage of the immortal finger pickin' banjo player Earl Scruggs playing accompaniment to The Byrds cover of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere" might be the most precious gem I have ever discovered on youtube to date and what better way to share it with you guys than posting it with some bad ass photos from my friend Heath Preheim...



Heath not only gets the "rough and rocky" side of tattooing but has a deep understanding of art and great respect for tattoo history.









Buy me a flute and a gun that shoots
Tailgates and substitutes
Strap yourself to a tree with roots you ain't going nowhere



Ooh we ride me high tomorrows the day my brides gonna come
Oh oh are we gonna fly down in the easy chair

just a lil' procrastination...

Right now I am editing the interview Taki and I did with Oliver Peck this past summer on his RV while speeding through the streets of Sacramento... What a blast! We LOVE Oliver...


For some reason can't seem to shake this song from my brain...




yep...that's me tattooing my name on Oliver in a moving vehicle, hitting every speed bump, hard turn and gay pride parade along the way!

dedicated to Colin...

This is the soundtrack to Colin's life today.



Press play and check out some other things that Colin loves,













Did you feel that...I think we all just got a little bit closer to Colin!